By K. Gopalakrishnan
Alok Industries is reasserting its leadership in home textiles with a wave of product innovations that place performance and sustainability at the yarn level. At a time when global buyers are demanding traceability, lower environmental impact and better functional performance, Alok’s home textiles division is unveiling a broad set of new technologies and ranges — from graphene-infused high thread-count sheets to PVA-free terry towels, dope-dyed microfibre sheeting and premium Kasturi cotton products. In a conversation with The Textile Magazine, Biji Chacko, Group Chief Operating Officer, described how these launches reflect the company’s vertical strengths, its collaboration with Reliance and its long view on sustainable, chemical-free performance.
Built-in functionality: performance at the fibre level
A central theme of Alok’s new portfolio is moving functional performance away from surface finishes and into the yarn itself. The company will launch a high thread-count sheet that incorporates a graphene-infused fibre supplied by Reliance Performance Fibres. Because the performance is inherent to the fibre rather than applied as a finish, the sheet offers temperature regulation, antibacterial behavior and anti-static properties that do not wash away over time. Independent third-party testing has already validated the graphene product on thermal performance metrics.
Alok is also broadening its specialty polyester offerings with a climate-control yarn that provides inherent thermal comfort and a “serene sleeve” yarn with built-in antibacterial performance. These developments follow the company’s stated aim to minimise chemical finishing and deliver stable, skin-friendly products that retain performance through the product life.
A new generation of sheets, towels and robes
Alok’s home textiles showcase will include multiple new commercial launches. The company is expanding its microfiber sheet business, including dope-dyed microfibre yarns that dramatically reduce water use during processing because colour is introduced at extrusion. This approach improves colour consistency and lowers the dyehouse footprint.
In terry, Alok will present a novel spinning technique that replicates the hand and absorbency of zero-twist yarns without using PVA. The PVA-free route lowers environmental impact and anticipates regulatory shifts, while keeping costs competitive. The firm is also introducing a new weaving technique for beach and yarn-dyed towels that blends two colours in the structure to produce a two-tone, depth effect the company calls a D effect. Complementing these is a newly scaled bathrobe line that has already attracted European retail interest.
A new polycotton sheet concept, marketed as Nest and Rest, uses super-fine spun polyester yarn spun to very fine counts so the resulting CVC fabric feels remarkably close to cotton. These products are aimed at price-sensitive tiers that still demand a soft, natural hand.
Collaboration with Reliance and regenerative cotton initiatives
Alok’s product roadmap has been shaped by industrial collaborations. The company is co-developing several ranges with Reliance, leveraging Reliance’s fibre innovations such as graphene-infused filament and dope-dyed microfibre. This supplier-manufacturer sync is allowing Alok to convert fibre innovations into finished home textile products more quickly than before.
On the raw material side, Alok has invested in Kasturi cotton projects that highlight premium Indian cotton. The company is also piloting regenerative agriculture cotton, or RegenAgri, and is working with partners to quantify soil and environmental impact so customers can track real climate and soil benefits. Alok has started presenting regenerated polyester options including Ciclo polyester and is working to bring costs down so recycled and biodegradable polyester becomes price-competitive for mainstream buyers.
Vertical integration, scale and traceability as differentiators
Biji Chacko emphasised that Alok’s scale and vertical integration provide a distinct competitive edge. With captive spinning, extensive weaving capacity and in-house finishing, Alok can control quality, lead times and traceability end to end. This one-stop capability simplifies sourcing for global retailers who want consistent product matching across sheets, towels and filled articles. The company’s ability to respond to both small e-commerce orders and large retailer container volumes makes it attractive to a broad buyer base.
Navigating near-term challenges while staying product-ready
The leadership acknowledged that trade uncertainties and recent tariff changes created a market slowdown and operational pressures after a period of rapid ramp up. Despite those headwinds, Alok kept its development teams focused and has continued rolling out innovations. Several products have already been sampled and shown to customers; Alok is ready to scale production once market signals strengthen.
Alok Industries is directing its long vertical heritage toward a future where performance, sustainability and supply-chain control matter more than ever. By embedding properties into fibres, validating performance through testing and partnering closely with fibre innovators, the company is building a differentiated home textile portfolio designed for global retail and hospitality markets. With new launches heading to Heimtextil and a strategy that pairs scale with agility, Alok is positioning itself to convert renewed market demand into a fresh phase of growth for its home textiles division.
