RSWM and Noize Design Studio Joint Venture to Build India’s First Industry 5.0 Green Garment Plant

RSWM’s Next-Gen Garment Plant: The Joint Venture with NDS9

RSWM Limited, the flagship company of the LNJ Bhilwara Group and one of India’s largest textile manufacturers, has signed a joint venture agreement with Barcelona-based design studio NDS9 to create LNJ NDS9 Global Private Limited. The new entity will establish a state-of-the-art green garment manufacturing campus, described as India’s first fully Industry 5.0-ready apparel facility. The focus will be premium denim and activewear, with output aimed squarely at leading international fashion brands.

Phase 1 of the project carries an estimated investment of INR 186 crore and will install capacity for 500,000 denim garments per month. Phase 2, which adds knitwear capability, will bring total capacity to 1.5 million garments monthly. The plant is designed around advanced automation, artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing, with rooftop solar built in from the start. RSWM will lead operations, procurement, quality and supply chain, while NDS9 takes responsibility for design, trend forecasting, sales, marketing and international customer engagement.

Chairman and Managing Director Riju Jhunjhunwala described the JV as a milestone in RSWM’s evolution from a commodity textile producer to an integrated, value-added apparel company. For NDS9, the move brings its design-first, fast-to-market model directly into large-scale sustainable production, with Managing Director Aryash Chauhan emphasising the fully integrated solution now available to global customers—from concept to delivery.

Inside the Partnership: What the RSWM-NDS9 Plant Means for Indian Textiles

The Strategic Logic of the Partnership

The joint venture directly addresses a gap many pure-play manufacturers face: the ability to offer international brands not just fabric, but finished, design-led garments without sourcing multiple partners. RSWM, historically strong in yarn and fabric, gains ownership of the garment stage, which typically carries higher margins and deeper customer relationships. NDS9, whose credentials lie in converting fashion trends into commercial product for brands across Europe, North America and Asia, secures reliable, scaled production that meets the growing demand for sustainable and traceable supply chains. The split of responsibilities—RSWM on the factory floor, NDS9 on the creative and commercial front—is a textbook case of complementary capabilities.

Where This Leaves India’s Apparel Export Ambitions

The facility arrives at a moment when global brands are actively diversifying sourcing away from single-country dependencies. India has long been a preferred textile supplier, but the missing piece has often been a design-integrated, speed-to-market garment platform that can match the full-package offers of competitors. By showcasing a fully digital, green facility from the outset, the RSWM-NDS9 campus strengthens India’s pitch as a next-generation sourcing hub. Its explicit focus on denim—a water-intensive product—and activewear, with rooftop solar and sustainability embedded, also aligns with tightening ESG requirements from EU and US buyers.

The Industry 5.0 Angle: Automation, AI and Human-Centric Operations

While Industry 4.0 emphasised connectivity and data, Industry 5.0 reintroduces the human operator as a creative, supervisory force alongside machines. For a facility handling premium denim finishes and activewear construction, this could mean a blend of AI-driven quality control and skilled artisanship in washes or detailing. The promise matters to brands that need both consistency at scale and the flexibility to adapt to fast-changing trends. However, the proof will be in execution—integrating these technologies without inflating cost per garment will be the early test.

What the JV Means for Industry Executives

For international apparel brands: Evaluate LNJ NDS9 as an end-to-end sourcing partner for premium denim and activewear, particularly if your 2027-28 buying plans demand sustainability credentials and shorter design-to-delivery cycles. The Phase 1 capacity of 500,000 jeans per month offers meaningful volume from a single, traceable campus.

For Indian textile exporters and competitors: The JV signals that integrated, design-led manufacturing is becoming the competitive standard. Companies that currently supply only fabric or unfinished garments should assess whether a partnership model or in-house expansion into design and garmenting is necessary to retain relevance with top-tier global buyers.

For investors in RSWM and the LNJ Bhilwara Group: Monitor the Phase 1 execution timeline and initial order book announcements. While INR 186 crore is significant, the phased approach and RSWM’s operational track record provide a degree of capital discipline. Early customer traction from NDS9’s existing brand relationships will be a key leading indicator.