“Since exports of cotton based apparels are season based, knitting machines lie idle for a few months in a year. So the foray in to synthetic textiles will mean that knitters will be able to run their export units throughout the year”, Mr Sakhtivel, President of Tirupur Exporters Association informs fibre2fashion.

Offering more details, he says, “We have already imported a knitting machine to knit synthetic fabrics at the AEPC managed Knitwear Technology Mission (KTM) in Tirupur and currently we are making samples of  knitted fabrics made from polyester, nylon etc.”

When asked if synthetic fabrics will replace cotton, he says, “Synthetic knitted fabrics will not replace cotton, but will run side-by-side of cotton knitted fabrics. The potential for export of synthetic fabrics made apparel is very huge as consumption of these apparels is higher compared to cotton made clothing in overseas markets.”

In 2013-14, exports of garments amounted to around Rs 17,800 crore from Tirupur. 

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India