by ABFRLadmin | April 22, 2025
As the world grows more conscious of its environmental footprint, industries are evolving—and fashion is no exception. What once revolved around seasonal collections and trend-driven consumption is now shifting towards thoughtful creation, circular design, and resource-efficient processes. At the heart of this shift is the growing role of digital tools in transforming not just how fashion looks, but how it’s made.
Designers across the industry are embracing technology to reduce waste, streamline production, and make more sustainable decisions from the ground up. Among the companies quietly championing this transformation is Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL), where innovation meets intention.
• A New Era of Creative Exploration
One of the most revolutionary steps in sustainable fashion has been the adoption of 3D design and virtual sampling. Instead of relying on numerous physical samples to perfect a garment, designers are turning to tools like CLO 3D to visualize, test, and tweak collections in a virtual space. This significantly cuts down on both fabric waste and production time. It also empowers designers to explore multiple design possibilities without generating unnecessary prototypes or consuming additional resources.
Virtual sampling ensures better alignment between design intent and final output, reducing the back-and-forth typically seen in traditional workflows. By digitizing this phase, fashion creation becomes more fluid, faster, and far more efficient.
• From Raw Ideas to Precision-Made Pieces
Digital design doesn’t stop at visualization. Advanced fabrication technologies – such as laser cutting – are now an integral part of ABFRL’s production approach. Laser cutting allows for ultra-precise fabric usage, minimizing offcuts and contributing to a cleaner, more efficient production floor.
This high-tech approach doesn’t just reduce waste – it elevates the quality of the final product, ensuring durability without compromising on aesthetics.
• Data-Driven Sustainability Decisions
In FY24 alone, the emphasis on data-led design led to nearly 9 out of 10 ABFRL products carrying at least one sustainability attribute—be it the use of organic fibers, recycled materials, or low-impact dyes. These aren’t post-production adjustments; they are incorporated into the design from day one.
• Unlocking Circular Fashion Potential
With increasing awareness around the limitations of a linear fashion model, ABFRL has taken bold steps toward circularity. By repurposing surplus materials or integrating leftover fabric into new collections, waste is not just reduced—it becomes a source of creative opportunity.
The company is actively collaborating with innovation partners through platforms like Circular Apparel Innovation Factory, Intentional Circular Contribution Economy, and GIZ to make circular design principles more accessible and scalable across its value chain.
• Greener Threads: Efficiency Led to Impact
Digitization isn’t limited to the design board – it’s embedded across ABFRL’s studios and production units. Traditional pattern-making, once a manual and waste-prone process, has evolved with the help of digital pattern software, allowing teams to maximize fabric efficiency and reduce cutting errors.
This digital-first mindset aligns with ABFRL’s broader environmental targets. As of FY24, 67% of energy used in owned facilities came from renewable sources, and in in FY23 over 90% of generated waste was either recycled or reused. These aren’t just milestones – they represent a systematic overhaul of how fashion is produced in modern, energy-conscious spaces.
Additionally, water management practices have seen a remarkable transformation. With over 104,000 kiloliters harvested through rainwater systems and 64,000 kiloliters gathered via community efforts, ABFRL is actively reducing dependence on freshwater sources in its manufacturing processes.
• Sustainable Prototyping and Shorter Lead Times
Digitized prototyping has become a powerful way to bring down the environmental cost of experimentation. Designers can now test fabric movement, garment fit, and colour combinations using digital avatars, reducing the number of physical trials needed. This means fewer samples, lower emissions from shipping prototypes, and faster go-to-market timelines—benefiting both the business and the planet.
Digital tools also allow for better inventory control. When combined with trend prediction models, they help reduce overproduction—a chronic issue in fast fashion—ensuring that what’s made is what’s truly needed.
• Designing for the Future, Today
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of ABFRL’s digital transformation is how seamlessly it integrates sustainability without sacrificing style. There’s no trade-off between what’s good for the planet and what’s beautiful on the runway. Every pixel, pattern, and product reflect a careful balance of environmental awareness and creative expression.
As Earth Day reminds us of the pressing need to rethink our impact, ABFRL’s approach offers a blueprint for how the industry can evolve. The journey isn’t about doing less harm—it’s about actively doing better. With digital tools in hand, designers today have the power not just to shape fashion’s next season, but its future.
