The long-awaited Knitwear Technology Mission (KTM) in Tirupur to promote product and fabric diversification and value addition across the apparel value chain has now become a reality. The Rs. 13-crore mission center, under the aegis of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), would offer necessary services to trade and industry to develop innovative apparel categories for sports wear, swimwear and varieties of performance wear mainly from man-made fibres like polyester and nylon, according to Mr. A. Shaktivel, Chairman, KTM.
He told reporters that with majority of the countries now going for high fashion wear from man-made fibre yarn, as against almost 95 per cent cotton yarn in India, KTM has imported the latest version of Tricot warp knitting machine from Germany, which can be utilised by the Indian apparel exporting community for its sampling needs.
He said that there is huge overseas market for sportswear and swimwear worth $75 to 80 billion. The Council recently discussed with the Textile Ministry the issue of expanding the centre and the need for funds for the purpose.
The KTM Centre would also impart consultancy and training in the fields of knitting, processing, garmenting, CAD/fashion designing, new product development, testing and consultancy for yarn and fabrics. It has its facility to train at least 5,000 personnel every year, Mr. Shaktivel added.