By Dr. N. Vasugi and M. Kanimozhi, Professor, Research Scholar, Dept. of Textiles & Clothing, Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore
Coimbatore is one of the most industrialized cities in Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as “the Textile Capital of South India”, the city is situated on the banks of the Noyyal river. The second largest city in Tamil Nadu it has a number of major textile factories, engineering firms, automobile parts manufacturers, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, etc. The city has also a number of small, medium and large textile mills.
A hub of textile spinning and weaving mills, Coimbatore is also known as the Manchester of South India, Tirupur, the nearby town, is home to some of Asia’s largest garment manufacturing companies, exporting hosiery clothes worth more than $1 billion. Home textiles exports from Karur and handlooms from Erode have contributed to the tremendous growth and demand for spinning and weaving mills in and around Coimbatore. Yarns are supplied to the local market as well as exported to other countries. Coimbatore yarns are famous for their quality.
Dr. N. Vasugi
Many textile mills have upgraded their textile machinery and increased the capacity to meet the growing needs of the textile market.
Recently NTC modernized its mills. Four of them are in Coimbatore, namely, Murugan Mills, Cambodia Mills, Pankaja Mills and Sri Rangavilas Mills. Funds for the purpose were generated through sale of assets with installation of new hi-tech machines. It is also proposed to modernize Coimbatore Spinning and Weaving Mills, and to set up a technical textile unit in Coimbatore to manufacture medical textiles.
Now-a-days the textile industry is undergoing a most important reorientation towards non-clothing applications of textiles, known as technical textiles. The South Indian Textile Research Association (SITRA) is undertaking research on medical textiles. SITRA has various high tech testing facilities which it offers to industries and academic researchers. It also conducts various training programmes such as long-term certificate courses, and provide training aids.
As part of the Technology Mission on Technical Textiles (TMTT), four new Centers of Excellence in technical textiles have been set up. They focus on areas like nonwovens, sportech, indutech and composites. The PSG College of Technology will create a center for industrial textiles with government support of Rs. 24.5 crores, which will be used for infrastructure and personnel development.
Coimbatore is the only city in Tamil Nadu where textile programmes are offered by a majority of educational institutes such as PSG, KCT, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textile Management, South India Institute of Fashion Technology, Avinashilingam Deemed University, Bharathiyar University, Hindusthan College of Arts & Science, Krishna College of Arts & Science, SNS Rajalakshmi, Kongunadu Arts & Science, Bhishop Appasamy, etc. These institutions organise various national and international conferences and symposia every year for the benefit of students. Students from these institutions undertake research activities in different areas of textiles such as from fibre to fabric, processing, green textiles, technical textiles, etc., as the main part of their studies.
With all this, the Coimbatore textile sector is expected to pass through a new phase, especially in technical textiles, eco-friendly textiles, green composites, etc.
