Introduction to the Fashion Industry

Introduction
The textile industry touches the lives of all people in one or the other ways. Apparel, Home Textile Technical textiles Industrial textiles Medical textiles Safety textiles Smart or Intelligent textiles There are variations for all - Consumers, Traders, Manufacturers, Technologists, Engineers and others.

History of Textile Industry

Textile industry has come a long way to be an organized industry from being a mere domestic industry. Starting with the Industrial Revolution, it has gained a state of supremacy with time. High production of wool, cotton and silk all over the world has given a boost to the textile industry in past years. Though the industry originated in UK, the art of textile production passed to Europe and North America after mechanization of textile manufacturing process in those areas . Asian countries also industrialized their economies and took steps for the growth of this sector. Japan, India, Hong Kong and China have become leading producers of textile because of the availability of cheap labour which is a very important factor for this industry. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has taken important steps for development of this sector. In 1995, WTO had adopted Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), which provided for removal of quotas on textile and clothing among WTO member countries. This agreement was enforced on 1-1-2005 and all the quotas were abolished. Although high tariffs and quantitative restrictions are imposed by the economically developed countries, the developing countries are increasingly exporting textiles to developed and other countries.

Global Overview
Global Textile Scenario - The Present Statistics According to statistics, the global textile market is worth of more than $500 billions at present. In a more liberalized environment, the industry is facing competition as well as opportunities. It is predicted that Global textile production will grow up to 50 % by 2014. The world textile and apparel industry has gone into a phase of transformation since the elimination of quota in the year 2005. Many new competitors as well as consumers have entered the global market with their immense capabilities and the desire to grow.

It is expected that China will represent around 45% of global trade by 2010. In spite of its significant growth trend, China's rising costs and perceived risks are creating more opportunities for other low cost countries. It is also expected that India will represent around 20% of global trade by 2010 . India is rapidly expanding its role with new capacity build-up in management control of textile trades through vertical integration. Vertically integrated companies are organized in a hierarchy and share a common owner. Usually each member of the hierarchy produces a different product or service. The products are combined to achieve a common goal. The advantage of Vertical integration is that it avoids the hold-up problem. Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh are relying on their low manufacturing costs due to cheap labour available there. Turkey,closely connected to Italy, is fast emerging as a critical regional player. It is creating a number of new regional brand players by providing them ' Turquality ' accreditation. The purpose of this accreditation is to strengthen the quality image and enhance the recognition and awareness of Turkish brands. Egypt is presently working with new emphasis in textile sector. Eastern European countries, have suffered a slight set back due to their growing costs. As a result they are rapidly refocusing and repositioning on higher market segments. South and Central America maintain a relevant focus on textile Italy still leads in the luxury segments. In the western countries, imports have almost reached 85-90% of total consumption

Technical textile is high performance textile that is based on special functionality. Its market is expanding and it is used in various industries like agriculture, clothing, construction, health care, transportation, packaging, sports, environmental protection, protective wear, and many more. The global market for technical textiles is expected to grow to the value of US$ 127 billion by the year 2010. While the US and EU continue to be the main manufacturers and consumers of functional textiles, China has emerged as a large manufacturer of the same. The Technical textiles may be classified into following categories :

Agrotech : Agro Textile are used in gardening, landscaping, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry etc. Buildtech: Construction textile used in the construction of buildings, sport arenas and halls. Clothtech: Functional textile used in clothing and footwear Geotech: Geo Textile used by the civil engineering industries like roads, bridges, tunnels and dams to provide support and stability below the ground level. Indutech: Industrial Textile used for purposes such as filtration, cleaning, mechanical engineering, sealing, sound insulating, etc. Medtech: Medical Textile used in health and hygiene applications for the medical markets. Mobiltech: Transport Textiles used in the construction, equipment and furnishing of passengers and goods transportation (land, sea, air), civil and military. Hometech: Home Textile used in the manufacture of furniture, upholstery, floor coverings and carpets. Oekotech: Eco Textile used in environmental protection, waste disposal and recycling. Packtech: Packing Textiles used for carriage, storage and protection of industrial, agricultural and other goods. Protech: Protective textiles used in personal and property protection. Sporttech: Sports textile used for sport and leisure products . Apart from these the Global Market for Smart Fabrics and Interactive Textiles (SFIT) has developed significantly in recent years. These textiles provide interactive properties such as electrical conductivity, ballistic resistance and biological protection. Electrically heated

Future Textile Industry- A Perspective

The future global market for textile and apparel is expected to expand in a significant way. The reasons for such expansion include growth of new consumption markets, Global expansion of modern retail business, boom of air and sea shipments, growth of textile and related production in Eastern Europe, ex Russian block, Turkey, Middle East, South East Asia, India, China and South America. In future, It is going to be a challenging global market full of risks but also full of unbelievable opportunities. Strategic partnership among various interests will become more important than the traditional transactions through vendor relations.

Skill & Competence

It is going to be a talent intensive market where certain capabilities will dominate the market: The capability to coordinate the dispersed supply chains through intelligence, understanding, technology and better management practices. The trading capability for taking full advantage of the vast and diverse ranges of textile produced across the globe. Capability of developing retail brands for differentiating from other products and for gaining loyalty of consumers. B2B branding because the large retailers and brands are relying more and more on B2B brands. Innovation- new products, new systems, new applications- innovation will be the key word. Adding value to products , customized with the "fast" changing fashion and textile needs.

Key Trends

Key Trends : There will be no seasons specific textile and apparels, external factors will rapidly change scenarios, customization & the web will be more prominent: While producing textile, factors such as environmental pollution and global warming will have to be considered. The world already has imposed strict rules and regulations regarding this. Multi seasonal apparels will gain prominence. External factors like exchange rates of the currencies such as Dollar, Euro, Yuan, Rupee etc., the fall and rise of petrol prices, air transport, country specific and global political situations will have greater impact on the rise or slowdown of the industry. Internet sales are growing significantly and it will grow further.

Sectorial Overview

The term Textile' is a Latin word which cones from the word texere' which means to weave'. Textile originally referred to a woven fabric but latter on the term textile as well as the plural textiles refers to fibers, filaments and yarns. The primary sectors which comprise of the textile industry Man made fiber mill Textile Mill industry Filament yarn industry Deconcentrated Power loom sector Woolen Textile Industry Silk Industry Jute Industry Handicraft Industry

Textile Mill

Textile refers to a flexible material comprising of a network of natural or artificial fibers, known as yarn. Textiles are formed after the process of weaving , knitting, crocheting, knotting and pressing fibers together. Textile Mills refers to manufacturing plants for making textile fabric and products. Textile Mill Industry is one of the largest industries in India.

It approximately provides employment to almost 10 lakh workers. A huge number of associated industries also depend on the textile sector. The Indian textile mill industries went through a process of phenomenal growth for the past four decades Dwindling condition of the mill last year due to. loosing ground to power looms in decentralized sector due to greater cost effectiveness. Low productivity due to lack of adequate modernization Stagnation in demand Inability of certain units to expand in national and international market Increase in cost of input Inadequate working capital Government of India took initiative to take adequate measures to tackle this problem. Board for industrial and Financial Reconstruction ( BIFR) was set up to detect sickness and the sick companies.

Textile Workers' Rehabilitation Fund Scheme (TWRFS) was set up to tackle the problems. Few Leading Indian Textile Mills are Adarsh Textile Mills : Manufacturer and exporter of good quality woolen and synthetic blankets Amritsar Swadeshi Woolen Mills : Pioneer in manufacturing heavy woolen yarn and largest manufacturer of fabric Aroon Mills : Manufacture of textile auxiliaries Mohan Thread Mills : Manufacturer of high quality embroidery yarn and threads

Products of Textile Mills

Textile Mills usually produces both yarn products and fabric products.

Yarn Products

Cotton yarns Blended yarn Synthetic yarn Specialty yarn

Fabric Products Woven fabrics Knitted fabrics Grey and dyed fabrics

The Man-Made Fiber / Yarn and Powerloom Sector: This part of industry includes fiber and filament yarn manufacturing units. The Power looms sector is decentralized and plays a vital role in Indian Textiles Industry. It produces large variety of cloths to fulfill different needs of the market. It is the largest manufacturer of fabric and produces a wide variety of cloth. The sector contributes around 62% of the total cloth production in the country and provides ample employment opportunities to 4.86 million people. The Cotton Sector: Cotton is one of the major sources of employment and contributes in export in promising manner. This sector provides huge employment opportunities to around 50 million people related activities like Cultivation, Trade, and Processing. Indias Cotton sector is second largest producer of cotton products in the world.

The Handloom Sector: The handloom sector plays a very important role in the countrys economy. It is the second largest sector in terms of employment, next only to agriculture. This sector accounts for about 13% of the total cloth produced in the country (excluding wool, silk and Khadi). The Woolen Sector: The Woolen Textile sector is an Organized and Decentralized Sector. The major part of the industry is rural based. India is the 7th largest producer of wool, and has 1.8% share in total world production. The share of apparel grade is 5%, carpet grade is 85%, and coarse grade is 10% of the total production of raw wool. The Industry is highly dependent on import of raw wool material, due to inadequate production.

The Jute Sector Jute Sector plays very important role in Indian Textile Industry. Jute is called Golden fiber and after cotton it is the cheapest fiber available. Indian Jute Industry is the largest producer of raw jute and jute products in the world. India is the second largest exporter of jute goods in world.

The Sericulture and Silk Sector: The Silk industry has a unique position in India, and plays important role in Textile Industry and Export. India is the 2nd largest producer of silk in world and contributes 18% of the total world raw silk production. In India Silk is available with varieties such as, Mulberry, Eri, Tassar, and Muga Sericulture plays vital role in cottage industry in the country. It is the most laborintensive sector that combines both Agriculture and Industry.
The Handicraft Sector: The Indian handicrafts industry is highly labor intensive, Higher standards cottage based and decentralized industry. It plays a significant & important role in the countrys economy. It provides employment to a vast segment of craft persons in rural & semi urban areas and generates substantial foreign exchange for the country, while preserving its cultural heritage.

Textile Industry
Advantages Indian textile industries enjoy certain favorable factors which contribute in retaining its leading position in national and international scenario. These factors can be fully utilized to ensure further growth and development. Large raw material base including cotton , wool , silk , jute and other man made fibers. Huge capacity of production Easy accessibility to large scale skilled man power Entrepreneurship Flexible production process Limitations. The whole industry is split up Cotton quality Limitation and hazards in procedure of processing Labor reform problems Infrastructural limitations and bottlenecks

Main aspects of Textile industry

Textile apparel which includes clothing and garment Textile fabric Fibers, yarns and threads Textile chemical Textile products Textile machinery Textile services Considering the significance and contribution of textile sector in national economy, initiative and efforts are being made to take urgent and adequate steps to attract investment and encourage wide spread development and growth in this sector

Major products of textile industries

Awnings, textile Blankets Bags or sacks, textile Blinds, textile Canvas goods, textile Fabrics, textile Felts ( except floor coverings) Glass fiber fabric Household linen Lace Narrow fabric Netting, textile Piece goods Ropes (except wire ropes) Sail cloth Sewing thread String Tarpaulin Thread Towels Trimmings, textile Yarns

3. Nature & Scope of the Fashion Industry

About the Fashion Industry The fashion industry ranks among the high growth sectors of the economy. It is labeled as a priority sector for trade development and promotion. The prospects of the garment industry are extremely encouraging. It provides attractive openings at various levels not only to professionals but also to the talented and the skilled youth. Both mens and womens apparel industry has seen phenomenal growth in the past few decades. The fashion industry has thousands of apparel manufacturing establishments. The major functional areas the industry has are designing garments, cutting the cloth, sewing the pieces together and finally merchandising. Popularizing and marketing of the various styles and products is done through ramp shows and fashion write-ups. Owing to the global stature of fashion business, the sector is receptive to foreign collaborations. By its very nature of being creative, several of the sub-sectors are found to have a constant and continuous absorption of new technologies, processes and management expertise in order to add value to their output or to increase the efficiency of their production and distribution processes. There exist immense challenges for those with talent and enthusiasm.

Stages in the designing of a product

Research - Creation of a design involves identifying what customers need and which designs will sell. Even in the special designers section, designers producing expensive original work keep in mind factors such as social customs, international fashion trends and fabrics available. In the wholesale sector manufacturing designers select and modify designs which are going to sell. They get ideas by reviewing periodicals and attending fashion shows etc. They also take into account competitors products and sales information. Trends are anticipated as designs are produced a year in advance of garments reaching the market. New designs are required for two or more seasons each year. Designs - Designers use their creativity to produce ideas to suit the market needs. Sketches are used to outline basic ideas when fabrics are selected. The appearance, quality and texture of fabrics are taken into account. During manufacturing, the designer liaises with production staff and the buyer to ensure that mass production is feasible and cost effective. Patterns - Designers make formal drawings indicating the position of seams, folds, darts, etc., but in many cases patterns are translated from the rough sketches by draftsmen. Samples - Designers garments are made up for the show or private clients. In wholesale manufacture, samples are made up before mass production begins and the designer makes any necessary adjustments. Changes may be required to suit production/budgetary requirements. Presentation - Designers are required to present their design work to clients. Effective presentation is essential for designers. They do so through fashion shows, selling to individuals or retail buyers. Designers market their work and give advice to clients about adaptations - types of fabric which can be used, different dimensions, production problems etc. This is a major aspect of the work for many designers.

Scope

Design department - Manufacturing units work on a large scale. They employ designers, cutting assistants, sketching assistants, junior designers. Cutting assistants have to cut samples as per specifications of the designer. This is followed by draping and garment construction. Sketching assistants make the technical sketches of the garments which are passed on to cutting assistants. From the making of specification drawings which decide how a garment has to be fabricated to the selection of fabrics is often the duty of the sketching assistant. Junior designers generally do the first pattern cutting. They assemble the first samples with fabrics they have selected from the market. Marketing and merchandising - Fashion trends are constantly changing, the people in merchandising and marketing have a good knowledge of fashion trends, of sales data and the organizations marketing objectives. Based on this information the marketing department plans the companys overall direction. It determines the price, product requirement, and hence they often work with the styling department when a new product is conceived. Manufacturing department - The production manager is at the head of the manufacturing unit. He is responsible for scheduling work goals, training of workers, managing all activities in order to maintain quality in production. The production manager oversees the work of pattern cutting - from pattern grading, spreading and marking to cutting, assembling and finishing. With the production manager are production assistants who supervise the work at each stage. The production pattern maker makes the first master pattern of the garment on tough paper. This master pattern is made in close coordination with the fashion designing department. The master pattern is made into a number of sizes. Each piece of the garment is represented by a piece of the pattern. The fabric is spread out and patterns are cut. The pieces are assembled for the machine operator and finally finished by handwork. This is the process where a number of people are employed in large manufacturing industries while in smaller units the same persons may be doing a number of tasks. Fashion coordinators - They coordinate with the buyer and the production manager. The fashion coordinator makes sure production schedules are kept, meets buyers goes through specifications for fabrics, colors, designs and keeps an eye on the quality. When buyers give their own designs, the coordinator helps decide the fabric colors and accessories that should be used to suit the designs. They explain the design to the production pattern makers and get sample pieces made. The sample is draped on a dummy to see if some changes in details or style are required. Once the sample is finalized, its pieces are measured precisely. It is the coordinator who suggests how the cloth should be cut so as to minimize wastage. The garment is then and finally presented for sale.

What fashion designers do

Fashion designers create designs for almost anything which is a part of the garment of men, women and children. Designers create garments and accessories making them functional as well as attractive, the main consideration being the needs of the client, which obviously are influenced by trends, market predictions and the climate. The designer needs to keep a close track with fit, style, colour, texture, size and material. The process begins with sketching the original idea on paper and then shaping the pattern pieces which make the garment. The pieces are then drawn in actual size on paper and cut out on a rough material. These pieces are stitched together and fitted on a model. Modifications in the pattern pieces or other features of the mock up are made and thus the design is completed. From the rough model sample garments are made in the final fabric. Much time of the designer is spent in exploration and research. Knowledge about fabric, weave, draping qualities, material, color and design and the changing trends is important.

Three main areas of fashion design and manufacture.

These are designing for Mass production (wholesale), for fashion trends and largescale manufacture of designer ware. By far the largest area is wholesale manufacture, where firms mass-produce garments following fashion trends set in by fashion forecasters. High fashion designs when simplified and adapted for the common public are suitable for production in large numbers at low cost. Fashion trend setters are celebrated firms and fashion houses which produce exclusively designed garment collections. Fashion shows of Hauteur Couture collections are held for marketing these designs.

Personal Characteristics

Fashion designing is basically a creative field and success in this field is dependent more on the inherent creativity and formal training. Fashion designers should be artistic and should be able to express their ideas in sketches. They may not be brilliant artists but must be able to combine colours, shades and tones. Designers have a flair for creating with fabric and know how to use textiles effectively. Designers need visual imagination and the ability to think in three-dimensions to translate into garments what they visualize. They must be fashion conscious and must be aware of market requirements. An understanding of the market and customer lifestyle is required, so that designs are suitable for people they are made for. Designers must be good communicators. The work attitudes involved with selling, persuading and influencing are required. Selfemployed/freelance designers need business acumen. Top designers must be highly original and inventive. Sketching is not possible at shows, therefore designers must be observant and must have a good memory.

Work Environment

The work of a fashion designer is both competitive and stressful. Constant excitement, limelight and glamour set the tone for work. Considerable time is spent standing, working on large worktables. The work involves teamwork. Fashion shows require perseverance over long periods of time. There is considerable travel involved during fabric selection, analyzing fashion trends, fashion displays. Hectic work pressure evolves during fashion shows.

Employment Avenues

There are opportunities for work with the various sectors dealing with fashion. The opportunities for jobs exist in the following sectors

* Export houses dealing with garment/textile/hand loom exports * Retail and wholesale garment businesses in mens/womens/children clothing in sportswear/casual wear, etc. * Hauteur Couture * Government/Semi government-hand loom/textile manufacturers * Fashion show organizers/Fashion publishers * TV/Film fashion programme producers/comperes/costume designers, etc.

In India.

The scope of fashion design jobs in India is unlimited for India is a land of many colors, which are reflected in the vibrant clothing of the Indian People. India has an ancient textile heritage that is celebrated in our great epics. One of the greatest feats of textile engineering is mentioned in the Mahabharata, when the evil Dushasan attempts to disrobe the Princess Draupadi. His efforts are in vain, for Lord Krishna helps Draupadi retain her honor by ensuring her sari is of an unending length. Thus, no matter how much fabric Dushasan tries to pull off, he finds that yet more fabric remains draped over Draupadis body. Truly an amazing feat of fashion designing! Fashion design may be a relatively new field in India, however the Indian people have always had a sense of fashion. From the traditional hand woven cotton and silk sarees of South India to the woolen Phirans of Kashmir, decorated with delicate floral embroidery, and the colorful wraps of the tribal communities . North Eastern India to mirror work and tie and dyed fabric in Rajasthan and Gujarat, fashion has many manifestations across the length and breadth of the country. The scope for fashion design jobs in India is immense as Indians have increasingly become more conscious about their appearance and seek to enhance it in every way. Dressing well and fashionably has become the norm. Clothing companies need to hire people in a variety of jobs, ranging from Fashion designers, textile designers, models, retailers, buyers and merchandisers, to provide end-to-end solutions to their clients. The scope of fashion design jobs is therefore vast and extends beyond Indias markets to global markets too. Fashion designers such as Ritu Kumar, Raghavendra Rathore, Rohit Bal, JJ Valaya and Ritu Beri are known worldwide. Institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) provide training to budding fashion designers to develop their talent and become entrepreneurs in the fashion world. The India Fashion Week has become an international fashion event, with buyers from international stores making an appearance to transact business.

Role of Textile Industry in India GDP

Role of Textile Industry in India GDP has been quite beneficial in the economic life of the country. The worldwide trade of textiles and clothing has boosted up the GDP of India to a great extent as this sector has brought in a huge amount of revenue in the country. The textile industry is one of the leading sectors in the Indian economy as it contributes nearly 14 percent to the total industrial production. The textile industry in India is claimed to be the biggest revenue earners in terms of foreign exchange among all other industrial sectors in India. This industry provides direct employment to around 35 million people, which has made it one of the most advantageous industrial sectors in the country.

Some of the important benefits offered by the Indian textile industry are as follows: India covers 61 percent of the international textile market India covers 22 percent of the global market India is known to be the third largest manufacturer of cotton across the globe India claims to be the second largest manufacturer as well as provider of cotton yarn and textiles in the world India holds around 25 percent share in the cotton yarn industry across the globe India contributes to around 12 percent of the world's production of cotton yarn and textiles

Market Localization of the Industry:

Northern India: Delhi , Bhiwari,Jaipur, Jodhpur (Rajasthan),Ludhiana (Punjab) , Panipat (Haryana) Western India: Ahemdabad, Surat,(Gujrat) Solapur, Mumbai (Maharashtra) Southern India: Bangalore (Karnataka), Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Tiruchirapalli ,Madurai, Chennai(Tamil Nadu)

North India
Delhi Delhi holds a position of prominence and can play a significant role in capturing additional value within the country. As a sourcing destination and as a gateway to the rest of Indias textile and apparel sector, Delhi provides unique value in product development and design, and a tremendously flexible supply base. Delhi scores high on responsiveness, and is more enterprising. It has the capability to handle extraordinary fabrics and is strong in interpretations of artwork Being a metropolis, it has an efficient infrastructure and easy availability of skilled manpower. Bhilwara Bhilwara emerged as India's largest manufacturer of suitings, fabrics and yarn. Its share in the polyester/viscose fabrics (suiting) sector is around 50 per cent in India. Bhilwara city had the birth of the textile industry way back in 1961 when LN Jhunjhunwala set up his first unit to manufacture synthetic yarn. The unit is known as Bhilwara Spinners Ltd. Today Bhilwara is a prominent and leading manufacturer, exporter and supplier of world-class Suitings, Flock Fabrics and Yarn. The phenomenal growth of the textile industry is something interesting if seen in the context of a similar scenario elsewhere in the country. There is nothing special about Bhilwara to have come to the top position in the country except the fact that the entrepreneurs are a unique lot with enthusiasm to have something of their own even though the initial troubles happen to be serious.

Jaipur & Jodhpur: The Pink City of Jaipur has also become an important centre for the production of textiles, especially those using the traditional techniques of tie-and-dye, block printing and applique. A few producers in Jaipur have also started undertaking bead work to add more value to the product. The craftsmen of Jaipur and Jodhpur have developed an enviable expertise in different patterns such as applique and tie-and-dye, which they embellish with mirrors, thereby turning ordinary cloth into an exquisite artform! Bikaner, Sikar and Jhunjhunu are other popular centers of this craft. Thus, it is not without reason that Rajasthan is often referred to as a 'shopper's delight', with tourists often overwhelmed at the multitude of choices they get in embroidery styles. Quilting or the stitching together of scraps of fabric which fit into a larger design is a unique offering of the state of Rajasthan. The making of quilts involves time, patience and skill. The lightweight, feather soft quilt from Jaipur will make you want no other. The warmth of these quilts will keep you cozy on the coldest winter night and the embroidery on the cover will add color to an otherwise gray season! Mirrors in various shapes - round, square and triangular - are used to enhance the pattern or design on these quilts. These mirrors are held onto the cloth with stitches. One quilt can hold up to a thousand mirrors! Such creative use of mirrors leaves a lasting impression and turns a simple quilt into a much coveted and exclusive possession. Jaipur faces tough competition from Delhi on account of the geographical proximity between the two regions. However, Jaipur gets the benefit of lower wage rates as compared to Delhi. Jaipur is a well-known tourist destination, visited by a number of foreign tourists. This has helped largely in the development of Jaipur as a home textile production and export center.

Ludhiana The textile industry in Ludhiana makes use of both natural fibers like cotton, silk, jute and wool and artificial fibers such as polyester, viscose, nylon, acrylic and blended fibers. These industries produce T-Shirts, shirts, pullovers, cardigans, track suits, socks, jersey, sweat shirts, gloves, shawls, inner garments, etc. The textile industry of Ludhiana mainly fulfills the requirements of the domestic market, although for nearly ten years it has also exported its products. Nearly 99% of textile industries in Ludhiana are small scale. The Ludhiana textile industry has about 10,000 industrial units, comprising of exporters, brand producers and high-scale manufacturers. The industry employs more than five hundred thousand skilled workers. The textile industry of Ludhiana thus provides employment to many people. It is also the backbone of Ludhianas economy. Ludhiana textile has been dressing up India for a long time now.

Panipat The city of Panipat located in the state of Haryana is a major producer of woolen home textile products. The Panja durries produced in Panipat are famous the world over. These durries were initially made by rural women as part of dowry for their daughters. The Panipat home textile industry has now grown to the extent that it earns a turnover of nearly Rs. 3000 crore per annum. The easy availability of raw materials and economies of scale leading to low cost of production are the major factors which have led to the development of Panipat as a major production and export hub for home textiles. It has also developed as a sourcing hub for raw material for home textiles. Producers in Panipat have of late started experimenting with different fabrics such as polyester, silk and poly silk. Some producers have also started the use of natural fabrics such as bamboo and soya. Limitations which prevent it from reaching its full potential lack of mechanization and skilled manpower, lack of proper organization as well as lack of efficient infrastructure facilities. Palliwal Exports, SPJ Textiles Pvt. Ltd., Mahajan Overseas and Liberty are some of the eminent players in Panipat in terms of home textiles.

Mirzapur and Badhohi: Mirzapur and Badhohi are small cities located in Uttar Pradesh, which are major centers for the production of floor coverings and carpets. The collective turnover of the two cities is around Rs. 2000 crore. Being small cities, Mirzapur and Badhohi have infrastructural problems such as poor roads, lack of reliable power supply and lack of hotel facilities, due to which they have not been able to achieve growth to their optimum potential.

Western India

Ahemdabad The Arvind Mills is a major company that processes denim for jeans worldwide. This industry has proved a great boon for the people of Ahmedabad due to its situation near the Sabarmati river; as such the water required for the textile industry is easily available. The black soil found abundantly in Gujarat is best suited for the cultivation of cotton which is mostly required for the industry. Another major company in Ahemdabad is Ashima group. Electricity and cheap labour are available in abundance. Ahmedabad stands very near to the sea and as such export and import becomes easy. Because of its booming textile industry, Ahmedabad is also known as "The Manchester of world " Surat Surat textile industry has grown considerably over time. As the information the recent figure, textile production in Surat has grown by 10% in the last 5 years The textile market in Surat exports its beautifully ornamented saris to the Middle East countries. The international market demands more improvisations in the designs of the saris. The synthetic hub in Surat weaves around 900 crore meters of fabric worth Rs 15,000 crore per annum. Around 80% of it in the form of sarees and dress material are supplied to the key markets like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Cochin, Punjab and Delhi. Solapur Is the biggest manufacturer of zone of bed sheets, towels . Export

Mumbai Mumbai: Mumbai, previously Bombay, the large metropolis and the capital of Maharashtra, is also one of the major production and export centres for textiles & apparels. Source raw material from places such as Karur, Salem, Erode and Bengalooru (previously Bangalore) and add value to it. Home textile producers from Mumbai are popular the world over for their unique and innovative products. Being one of the largest cities of India, it has the benefits of skilled labor availability and efficient infrastructure. Due to the availability of technology, these producers are able to produce large quantities of products of the desired quality, within the desired time. Being located very near to a port, the producers of Mumbai are able to export goods easily and give delivery to clients within shorter lead times. On account of the high operating costs in Mumbai, several producers have established plants in surrounding areas like Vapi and Solapur. Those producers who have set up their plants in Mumbai have huge plants so as to get the benefits of scale. The textile producers in Mumbai have carved out a niche for themselves, particularly in Alok, Siyaram and S.Kumars are the major players in the field of home textiles in Mumbai.

Southern India

Bangalore Bangalore is also known as the 'Garment capital' of India. Karnataka, and especially Bangalore hosts many big garment companies. The Textile industry has been asking for textile parks on the lines of IT parks. A lot of brands, Jobwork , conversion for various foreign brands and retail chains head offices have been set up in bangalore Bengalooru: Bengalooru, previously Bangalore, is the capital city of Karnataka. It has emerged as a manufacturing and export hub for home textiles, especially in silk. Bengalooru is largely engaged in the production of fabric, which is mainly done using power looms. This fabric is then sourced to other parts of India for value addition. On account of the high price of pure silk, producers in Bengalooru are now experimenting with fabrics such as artificial silk, wool silk and cotton silk among other fabrics. The producers in Bengalooru get the benefit of modern technology and efficient infrastructure, as is the case with large cities.

Karur: It is especially known for the production of pillow covers, bedspreads as well as kitchen and table linen. Karur mainly produces cotton home textiles by way of hand looms, while power looms are gradually being accepted. The traders of Karur are largely engaged in the supply of home textile raw material throughout India, the major markets being Delhi, Panipat and Mumbai among others. Some of them are engaged in exports. On account of large scale production, Karur gets the benefit of reduced costs. This, together with the exceptional quality of its products, has enabled it to carve out a niche for itself in the production of home textiles. The turnover of the town was recently noted to be around Rs.3000 crore. Limitations: The major drawbacks that the town faces are lack of proper roads, lack of availability of skilled manpower, lack of communication skills, shortage of good hotels and lack of organization, which limit growth to the full potential. The home textile producers of Karur specialize in certain finishes, such as PVA, starch, stain repellent, water repellent and silicon finish. Some producers have begun the use of organic cotton and the use of different fabrics such as polyester, silk and poly cotton.

Cannanore: Cannanore, located in South India, is another hub that is well known for the production of home textiles. About 60% of the textile production done in this area is home textile. The home textile industry of Cannanore has an annual turnover of Rs. 300 crore. In spite of Karur and Cannanore being located close together geographically, there is a notable difference between the products manufactured in the two places. The water that is available in Cannanore has special properties, due to which the fabric produced here has a different kind of shine and look. Home textile producers in Cannanore are beginning to use fabrics such as cotton viscose, silk and cotton. Producers here are also adding value with the help of embroidery, bead work and sequin work.

Tiruchirapalli ,Madurai, Chennai: Chennai is the fourth largest metropolitan city in India and is the capital of Tamilnadu. It has emerged as a major production and export hub for textiles & apparel. Being well connected with other parts of the world through road, air and water, Chennai does not face the limitations as the other hubs do. Moreover, being a metropolis, it has good infrastructural facilities and latest technology. It is comparatively easier to obtain skilled manpower and intellectual designers. Home textile producers in Chennai usually source raw materials from Karur, to which value addition is undertaken. These producers are able to deliver better quality products within a shorter period of time with the benefit of technology and the services of experts. Several of these producers are also engaged in the export of home textiles. BKS Textiles and ADJ Textiles are two major players in home textiles in this area.

Coimbatore The third largest city of the state, Coimbatore,is one of the most industrialized cities in Tamil Nadu, known as the textile capital of South India or the Manchester of the South, Coimbatore is well known for its textile industries and has excellent potential for industrial growth. There are more than 25,000 small, medium, large sale industries and textile mill. Known as the Manchester of south India due to its vibrant textile industry. The region's textile industry is on a massive expansion mode and fresh investments to the tune of Rs.1500crores are in the pipeline

Erode Erode is the major business in the city. Erode is well known for marketing of handloom, power-loom and ready-made garments and textiles. Loomed products are marketed here in bulk. Erode produces about 47% of state's total textile needs. Erode occupies many textile markets, among which Gani Market in PS Park, is the biggest one. Merchants from all over India participate in this. The market opens on Monday evening and closes on Tuesday morning, and mean-whiles it takes a turn-over of about 5-6 Crores of Indian Rupees. Behind this, the other textile markets in the city are open for all days sri amman dying works Mr.E.V.Muthusamy is also a senior master of dying works. Most of the people involved in textiles are migrants from U.P., Bihar, Rajasthan. There exist over 1000 such families in Erode. One would find most of their offices in areas like N.M.S Compound, Thirunagar Colony and Indra Nagar. Power-Loom, Hand-Loom were major occupation in this area, producing a lot of textile goods. Salem A lot of people form Erode have migrated to Salem due to its close proximity

Tirupur is a textile city located on the banks of Noyyal River. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirupur district Tirupur is a textile hub and a vast generator of employment for unskilled temporary workers. Tirupur has gained universal recognition as the leading source of Hosiery, Knitted Garments, Casual Wear and Sportswear. Tirupur has emerged as the knitwear capital of the country in three decades Tirupur --- Fastest Growing Industrial City Tirupur has the largest and fastest growing urban agglomerations in Tamil Nadu. Tirupur stands as the life for millions of people in Tamil Nadu. The knitwear industry which is the soul of Tiruppur has created millions of jobs for all class of people. There are nearly about 3000 sewing units,450 knitting units, hundreds of dyeing units and other ancillary units which are uncountable. The annual for-ex business for the past year 2008 stands at Rs. 8,000 crore. Due to the climate and availability of raw material and work force Tiruppur has had made a large contribution to the export of knitwear garments. Vellakoil is coming under this district only. [7] [edit] International Brands It is called the Knits Capital of India as it caters to famous brands retailers from all over the world. Nearly every international knitwear brand in the world has a strong production share from Tirupur. It has a wide range of factories which export all types of Knits fabrics and supply garments for Kids, Ladies, Men's garments - both underwear and tops. The city is known for its hosiery exports and provides employment for about 300,000 people.[citation needed] Some of the world's largest retailers including C&A, Switcher SA, Walmart, Primark, Switcher, Diesel, ARMY, Tommy Hilfiger, M&S, FILA, Respect, H&M, HTHP, Whale, Reebok import many textiles items and clothing from Tirupur city. A large market for export reject pieces also exists centred in the Khaderpet locality close to the railway station. Recently in 2010 , PGC Industries (export wing as PremDurai Exports ) acquired controlling interest in Switcher Holding SA (Switzerland) which is the top T-Shirt brand of Switzerland.

Extra Material for Innovative or Smart Fabrics

Innovations in Fibers, Textiles and Apparels :

Innovations enable a company to differentiate its products and take competitive advantage in the market. Many innovations have been made in the field of textile manufacturing: Fire Resistant textile protects human skin from flames and heat, hot gases and vapors. These are used in industries like aerospace, construction, defense, fire fighting, engineering, mining etc. Smart or Intelligent textiles can think for themselves. They can sense and react to external conditions and also retain the aesthetic and technical properties of textile material. They are used to measure strain, temperature, pressure, electric currents, magnetic fields, etc. in defense, aerospace, science and research, nuclear plants etc. Ultra-fine textiles use tightly woven fabrics which have high resistance to dust, water and wind. They also have extremely soft look and are used in manufacture of fashion garments like suede suits etc. They are also used in medicinal field for making bandages, sheets, patients' gowns, curtains and bedsheets. Electronic textiles or e-textiles are used for manufacturing fabrics that have electronic interconnections within them. These clothings measure blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature etc. and relay the data to a computer, cellphone or other device that could signal for help if the wearer experiences a health problem. Another variation of it may have an MP3 player fitted in it. Nano fibers are used for manufacturing protective suits for police, defense, fire fighters etc. These fibers are the finest fibers in the world and have better mechanical properties than any micro fibers made of the same material. Abrasion resistant fabrics can resist injury, erosion, scratch, extreme weather etc. They are used in defense, fire fighting, marine, automotive, glass manufacturing, engineering etc. Adhesives fabrics ensure a long-lasting bonding between various elements and are used in industries like aerospace, automobile, automotive, water fabrication, IT, electrical, metalworks, construction, aviation etc.

Anti allergic and Anti Bacterial textiles can reduce all types of bacterial, fungal allergies like colds and flues and improve sleep, meditation and relaxation, increases lung capacity, absorption of Vitamins B and C, relieves from migraine, respiratory tracks and nose disorders, stress, etc. Anti Magnetic textiles and Anti Radiation fabrics offer protection against magnetic pull in areas with active magnetic field and from Ultra Violet radiations. These textiles are used in industries such as aerospace, aviation, petrochemical, textile, electronics, machinery and environment protection.. Anti-static textile prevents damage to electrical components, fires and explosions when working with flammable liquids and gases. Multifunctional Textiles include many properties in one product. These may include functionalities including waterproof , soil repellent, fire resistance, wrinkle free, anti-U and antistatic finishing and other qualities as well. Auxetic textiles get fatter when stretched and narrower when compressed. These are used for making Personal Protection Clothing, filtration, Mechanical Lungs, Ropes, Cords & Nets, Medical Bandages, Fibrous Seals etc. Insulating textiles can keep away cold and damp moisture in extreme climatic conditions. These are used in manufacture of garments for areas which have temperature below 0 degree Celsius- Mountaineering apparel, Defense uniforms, Astronaut costumes etc. Luminescent and reflective textiles can absorb and store light energy when exposed to natural and artificial light sources such as sunlight, U.V. or fluorescent light and continuously emit stored energy in a form of visible light. These textiles are used as safety wear for fire men, traffic men and other personnel and for making warning boards or strips in industries like construction, electrical, mechanical etc. Shape memory polymer is a significant innovation in the textile and garment industry. These intelligent textiles can remember their original shape and return to it after heat treatment like washing or treatment with steam. They can be used for textile finishing, fiber and film-making and in industries like defense and aerospace. Soluble textiles can dissolve in water at temperature ranging from 37 to 40 degree C depending on their composition. They are sterile hygienic materials used to protect patients and medical staff from infections, surgical garments and drapes, face masks and shoe covers, food industry including food science, agriculture, ceramics, paper and ink technology and explosives.

Apart from the above innovations many other new textiles have been introduced in the market. Bio-textiles, fitted with certain enzymes, genetically engineered microorganisms or vitamins etc. have medicinal, therapeutic and protective characteristics. These are useful in medical and defense industries. Cleansing textiles are used for domestic, industrial, nuclear plants purposes and also in cosmetic for making skin cleansing tissues and wipes and in automobiles as dust mapping dusters. Deodorizing or Odor absorbing textiles absorb liquids and even gases. These are used for making sports wear, under garments, socks, curtains, sheets etc. for hospitals and hotels. Anti Ballistic Textiles are used in Defense, Police, Fire Fighting, Aerospace & Aviation etc. as protection textiles against heavy impact, bullets, stabbing etc. Waterproof textiles are resistant to water and are used in marine and related industries, water sports, sails, protective garments, umbrellas, packaging material, field covers for cricket matches etc. Windproof textiles are used in making wind-sheeters and jackets for bikers, in defense and aerospace industries for making special uniforms, and in manufacture of sports wear for adventure sports.