New Delhi, Feb. 10 -- We all have that perfect pair of jeans, the fit, the colour, the style that feels made for us. But behind the seams lies a concerning reality: producing a single pair consumes nearly 3,781 litres of water1, enough to sustain one person's drinking needs for approximately five years2 or keep a shower running for more than seven hours3. In a country where 163 million people lack access to safe drinking water4, this is more than a statistic; it's a serious point for reflection.

India's textile industry contributes 2.3% to GDP and employs over 45 million people5, yet it remains one of the largest consumers and polluters of water. Wet processing units, where fabrics are dyed, printed, and finished, are particularly resour...