A Complete Overview of Textile Manufacturing in India (Shahlon.com)
Textile Manufacturing in India has a significant contribution to make in the Indian economy. An independent industry, it has a pivotal role to play from meeting the basic requirement of raw materials to supplying the final product to different parts of the country. Furthermore, at each stage of processing of any garment, the industry has to make a huge value addition.
The manufacturing process starts with conversion of natural and synthetic fibers into yarn which is then converted into fabric. This fabric is then converted into textile which is finally used to make clothes. This long and intricate process is completed with the use of a number of textile equipment. Earlier, the manufacturing process was either done manually or with the help of very simple tools. It was during the Industrial Revolution that different textile manufacturing equipment like roller spinning tool, water frame, power loom, spinning jenny, flying shuttle, etc., were found and used to expedite the process. As time passed, the 20th century saw even more advanced tools being invented which facilitated improvement in different textile manufacturing processes like spinning, weaving, sewing, and knitting. Many other machines which came to the light during the post-industrial era were yarn processing and handling machines along with equipment for dyeing, twisting, and printing.
The textile machines can be broadly classified into: •
Textile-processing Machines like lace making, crochet quilting, tufting, zipper-making, textile winding, fabric-seaming, and many other types of machines.
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Textile-working Machines like measuring, attaching, monogramming, embroidery, bleaching, folding, etc.
The fact that textile sector accounts for 1/3rd part of the total export conveys the importance of textile manufacturers in India. The industry also generates employment in huge numbers in its different segments which are: • • • •
Cotton textiles which also include Handlooms Ready-made garments Silk and Woolen textiles Jute, Coir, Carpets
Currently, India’s textile industry is undergoing a huge re-orientation. Let us have a look at some of the strengths. •
Since India has raw materials in abundance, it enjoys several benefits. The country is one of the largest cotton yarn producers worldwide and also has silk, polyester, viscose, and other fibers in plenty.
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The synthetic fiber industry in the country is growing exponentially.
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With presence in almost all value chain processes, India is a great competition in the spinning sector.
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Availability of highly skilled management and technical manpower further adds to the advantage.
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Textile manufacturing in India is very reasonable due to lower wage rates.
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The garment industry is quite diverse in terms of size, manufacturing facilities, varieties, quality and quantity of output, etc.
Weaknesses •
One of the major weaknesses of the textile industry is that there’s huge fragmentation in its structure. Although the government policies which created the deformation are removed, the impact will be seen for some time more in the near future as well.
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Labor laws also need attention to create a favorable environment for the industry.