#indian textile industry

[welspun-living]

Indian Textile Industry

[reshamandi03]

ReshaMandi’s full stack digital ecosystem for natural fibres is empowering farmers, yarn manufacturers, weavers and retailers.

[foxnangelseo]

Exploring Investment Opportunities in India's Booming Technical Textiles Sector

The Indian technical textiles industry is experiencing an unprecedented surge in growth, presenting lucrative investment opportunities in India for both domestic and international investors. According to the esteemed textiles secretary Rachna Shah, the sector is poised to reach an astounding $50 billion within the next five years, a remarkable leap from its current value of $22 billion. This surge in demand and expansion is a result of the country's unwavering commitment to research and development, focus on skilling, and collaboration with various governmental bodies to enhance the technical textiles landscape.

During a recent event jointly organised by FICCI, BIS, and the Ministry of Textiles, Secretary Rachna Shah highlighted the significant progress witnessed by the technical textiles segment both in India and on the global stage. Currently, the global technical textiles market stands at approximately $260 billion, and it is projected to further surge to a staggering $325 billion by 2025-26. India, with its current market size of $22 billion, is making tremendous strides and is determined to elevate it to an impressive $40-50 billion within the next five years.

To support the growth of the technical textiles sector, the Indian government has adopted a multifaceted approach. One of the crucial elements of this approach is the emphasis on research and development activities, covering a wide range of fibres and applications. By investing in cutting-edge technology and innovation, India is fostering a culture of excellence in technical textiles, making it an attractive destination for investments.

The government is also dedicated to establishing a well-structured skilling ecosystem to nurture a skilled workforce essential for the sector's expansion. By focusing on developing a proficient and knowledgeable talent pool, India is ensuring a sustainable growth trajectory in the technical textiles industry.

Secretary Rachna Shah revealed that the Ministry of Textiles is collaborating closely with various inter-ministries and departments within the government, as well as state governments, to increase the demand and penetration of technical textiles. By creating a robust network of collaborations, the Indian government is fostering an environment conducive to the sector's growth.

Technical textiles are highly specialized products with specific performance requirements. Thus, the Indian government is prioritizing the development of standards and regulations to ensure the quality and safety of these products. By adhering to stringent standards, India aims to bolster the trust of both domestic and international buyers in its technical textile offerings.

Mapping technical textiles with Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) codes is an essential step taken by the government to streamline trade tracking. This mapping will help in effectively monitoring the trade of technical textiles and facilitate smoother transactions for investors and manufacturers alike.

The Ministry of Textiles has already notified two quality control orders (QCOs) for 31 technical textiles categories, including geotextiles and protective textiles, which will be effective from 7th October. Furthermore, draft QCOs for 28 additional items, such as Agro Textiles and Medical Textiles, have been posted on the WTO's website to invite feedback from industry stakeholders. This move reflects the government's commitment to maintaining the quality and standard of technical textiles.

Secretary Rachna Shah stressed the importance of a collaborative approach between certification agencies, industry players, and various government ministries to ensure the success of initiatives and foster continued growth in the technical textiles sector. Such collaborations will create a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved.

As India's technical textiles industry continues to witness remarkable growth, it presents an array of investment opportunities in India for astute investors. With the government's unwavering support, focus on research and development, and commitment to skill development, the sector is primed for exponential expansion. The future of technical textiles in India is bright, and for those looking to invest in a promising and dynamic industry, now is the opportune time to seize the moment.

This post was originally published on: Foxnangel

[sillyreviewhideout]

A Tapestry of Change: Unveiling Dynamics in the Textile Industry

The textile industry, a colossal presence in the global market, is currently undergoing a transformative journey, navigating through a mosaic of challenges and innovative trends. As of 2024, the industry's valuation stands at an estimated USD 748 billion, poised to ascend to USD 889.24 billion by 2029, showcasing a robust and consistent growth rate of 3.52% annually. However, this trajectory has not been without hurdles, especially considering the disruptions brought about by the seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Impact: Crafting Resilience Amidst Turbulence

In the tumultuous year of 2020, the textile industry faced unprecedented challenges in the wake of the global pandemic. Asia, a linchpin in the textile market, bore the brunt of prolonged lockdowns and a sudden plummet in international demand. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported a staggering collapse in global textile trade during the first half of 2020, with exports to major regions such as the European Union, the United States, and Japan plunging by approximately 70%. Further complicating matters, the industry grappled with disruptions in the supply chain, notably facing shortages of critical raw materials, including cotton.

Key Players: Anchors in a Dynamic Landscape

In the intricate tapestry of the textile industry, four major players emerge as key anchors: China, the European Union, the United States, and India.

China: Undoubtedly, China stands as the preeminent global producer and exporter of both raw textiles and garments. Its robust industry infrastructure positions it as an undisputed force in the market.

United States: Holding sway in raw cotton production and export, the United States claims the title of the leading importer of raw textiles and garments.

European Union: Comprising economic powerhouses like Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal, the EU commands a substantial share, contributing over one-fifth to the global textile industry.

India: Emerging as the third-largest textile manufacturing industry globally, India shoulders over 6% of the total textile production, adding a dynamic touch to the industry's landscape.

Market Trends: Riding the Crest of Transformation

1. Increasing Demand for Natural Fibers

Natural fibers, including cotton, silk, linen, wool, hemp, jute, and cashmere, are currently enjoying a surge in demand. Renowned for their strength and lightness, these fibers find diverse applications in garments, apparel, construction materials, medical dressings, and even automobile interiors.

Global Impact: The abundance of natural fibers, particularly cotton, in countries like China, India, and the United States, acts as a propellant, steering the global textile market toward unprecedented growth.

Versatility: Silk, valued for its finesse, graces upholstery and apparel. Meanwhile, wool and jute, celebrated for their resilience, elasticity, and softness, emerge as quintessential textile materials.

Consumer Preference: The increasing consumption of natural fibers is expected to act as a catalyst, propelling the global textile market forward throughout the forecast period.

2. Shifting Focus Toward Non-woven Fabrics

The textile industry is witnessing a deliberate shift toward non-woven fabrics, driven by evolving demographics and changing consumer preferences.

Demand Drivers: The burgeoning demand for hygiene products, such as baby diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products, is fueling the need for non-woven fabrics.

Applications: Nonwovens, extending beyond personal care products, are making significant inroads in road construction as geotextiles, bolstering the durability of roads. In the automobile industry, non-woven fabrics are increasingly employed for both exterior and interior parts due to their inherent durability.

Market Growth: A positive outlook in the automobile and transportation industry, coupled with the cost-effectiveness of nonwovens, is expected to propel substantial growth in this segment.

The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges

The textile industry stands on the precipice of a transformative era, driven by factors such as rapid industrialization and the relentless evolution of technology.

Rapid Industrialization: Both developed and developing nations are experiencing a whirlwind of industrialization, playing a pivotal role in modernizing textile industry installations, fostering higher efficiency, and augmenting revenues.

Technological Evolution: Recent innovations in textile technology assume a pivotal role in shaping the industry's future. The adoption of advanced technologies is anticipated to further elevate the efficiency and capabilities of textile production.

Conclusion: Navigating Change with Innovation

As the textile industry threads its way through challenges, it is the innovative trends that paint a promising tableau for the future. The resilience displayed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a strategic focus on natural fibers and non-woven fabrics, vividly demonstrates the industry's adaptability.

The collaborative efforts of major players like China, the European Union, the United States, and India form the warp and weft of the global textile landscape. With a keen eye on sustainability, versatility, and technological advancements, the textile industry stands poised not only to overcome present challenges but also to emerge as a dynamic force in the years to come.

[catcheyes-t-shirt]

Bangladesh World’s Second Largest Textile Manufacturer

Current Scenario of Textile Exports in Bangladesh

The emerging garment manufacturing hub of the world, Bangladesh, is manufacturing 16% of the world's garment needs. In garment manufacturing, it stands second in the world after China, and it has surpassed the growth of the textile industry in India. In the year, this small country has exported garments worth $35.8 billion. In Bangladesh's textile industry, 61% of the exports are directed toward the European Union, and 21% of the total exports are directed toward the United States of America. Bangladesh's sole concentration right now is on the textile sector. As we can see 80% of the export comprises textile products. 

Contribution of Bangladesh Textile Industry to Domestic Growth

The textile industry in Bangladesh is contributing a lot to the growth of this country. This sector appoints ten million people in Bangladesh out of the total population. The growth of Bangladesh's textile sector has also contributed to the growth of banking, transportation, ports, and other sectors. In South Asia, the highest number of factories is in Bangladesh, which has 4500 factories. The country, which is as big as Gujarat, has set a target of $100 billion worth of garment production by the year 2030. When we look back and calculate the time that it took to achieve $35 billion worth of exports, it just happened in 4 decades. 

Apart from garment manufacturing, Bangladesh is also ahead in yarn manufacturing. Bangladesh is able to meet their 90% of the knitted yarn requirement and 40% of the woven yarn requirement. Out of the total GDP, the contribution of the textile sector is 13%, and the textile sector generates 75% of the employment in manufacturing. Today, garment manufacturing hubs in India, like t-shirt manufacturers in Tirupur, kurti manufacturers in Jaipur, saree manufacturers in Surat, and other garment manufacturing hubs, should take inspiration from Bangladesh.

[expobazzar]

Future of Indian Handicraft Industry: Visionary Perspective

Gain insight into the future of the Indian handicraft industry from a visionary perspective. Explore the potential growth, innovation, and sustainability initiatives that can shape the industry's trajectory. Discover how traditional craftsmanship and modern influences can converge to create unique opportunities and propel the industry forward. Stay ahead of the curve and unlock the potential of the Indian handicraft sector with this visionary outlook.

[dresshistorynerd]

How did cotton win over linen anyway?

In short, colonialism, slavery and the industrial revolution. In length:

Cotton doesn't grow in Europe so before the Modern Era, cotton was rare and used in small quantities for specific purposes (lining doublets for example). The thing with cotton is, that's it can be printed with dye very easily. The colors are bright and they don't fade easily. With wool and silk fabrics, which were the more traditional fabrics for outer wear in Europe (silk for upper classes of course), patterns usually needed to be embroidered or woven to the cloth to last, which was very expensive. Wool is extremely hard to print to anything detailed that would stay even with modern technology. Silk can be printed easily today with screen printing, but before late 18th century the technique wasn't known in western world (it was invented in China a millenium ago) and the available methods didn't yeld good results.

So when in the late 17th century European trading companies were establishing trading posts in India, a huge producer of cotton fabrics, suddenly cotton was much more available in Europe. Indian calico cotton, which was sturdy and cheap and was painted or printed with colorful and intricate floral patters, chintz, especially caught on and became very fashionable. The popular Orientalism of the time also contributed to it becoming fasionable, chintz was seen as "exotic" and therefore appealing.

Here's a typical calico jacket from late 18th century. The ones in European markets often had white background, but red background was also fairly common.

The problem with this was that this was not great for the business of the European fabric producers, especially silk producers in France and wool producers in England, who before were dominating the European textile market and didn't like that they now had competition. So European countries imposed trade restrictions for Indian cotton, England banning cotton almost fully in 1721. Since the introduction of Indian cottons, there had been attempts to recreate it in Europe with little success. They didn't have nearly advanced enough fabric printing and cotton weaving techniques to match the level of Indian calico. Cotton trade with India didn't end though. The European trading companies would export Indian cottons to West African market to fund the trans-Atlantic slave trade that was growing quickly. European cottons were also imported to Africa. At first they didn't have great demand as they were so lacking compared to Indian cotton, but by the mid 1700s quality of English cotton had improved enough to be competitive.

Inventions in industrial textile machinery, specifically spinning jenny in 1780s and water frame in 1770s, would finally give England the advantages they needed to conquer the cotton market. These inventions allowed producing very cheap but good quality cotton and fabric printing, which would finally produce decent imitations of Indian calico in large quantities. Around the same time in mid 1700s, The East Indian Company had taken over Bengal and soon following most of the Indian sub-continent, effectively putting it under British colonial rule (but with a corporate rule dystopian twist). So when industrialized English cotton took over the market, The East India Company would suppress Indian textile industry to utilize Indian raw cotton production for English textile industry and then import cotton textiles back to India. In 1750s India's exports were mainly fine cotton and silk, but during the next century Indian export would become mostly raw materials. They effectively de-industrialized India to industrialize England further.

India, most notably Bengal area, had been an international textile hub for millennia, producing the finest cottons and silks with extremely advance techniques. Loosing cotton textile industry devastated Indian local economies and eradicated many traditional textile craft skills. Perhaps the most glaring example is that of Dhaka muslin. Named after the city in Bengal it was produced in, it was extremely fine and thin cotton requiring very complicated and time consuming spinning process, painstakingly meticulous hand-weaving process and a very specific breed of cotton. It was basically transparent as seen depicted in this Mughal painting from early 17th century.

It was used by e.g. the ancient Greeks, Mughal emperors and, while the methods and it's production was systematically being destroyed by the British to squash competition, it became super fashionable in Europe. It was extremely expensive, even more so than silk, which is probably why it became so popular among the rich. In 1780s Marie Antoinette famously and scandalously wore chemise a la reine made from multiple layers of Dhaka muslin. In 1790s, when the empire silhouette took over, it became even more popular, continuing to the very early 1800s, till Dhaka muslin production fully collapsed and the knowledge and skill to produce it were lost. But earlier this year, after years lasting research to revive the Dhaka muslin funded by Bangladeshi government, they actually recreated it after finding the right right cotton plant and gathering spinners and weavers skilled in traditional craft to train with it. (It's super cool and I'm making a whole post about it (it has been in the making for months now) so I won't extend this post more.)

Marie Antoinette in the famous painting with wearing Dhaka muslin in 1783, and empress Joséphine Bonaparte in 1801 also wearing Dhaka muslin.

While the trans-Atlantic slave trade was partly funded by the cotton trade and industrial English cotton, the slave trade would also be used to bolster the emerging English cotton industry by forcing African slaves to work in the cotton plantations of Southern US. This produced even more (and cheaper (again slave labor)) raw material, which allowed the quick upward scaling of the cotton factories in Britain. Cotton was what really kicked off the industrial revolution, and it started in England, because they colonized their biggest competitor India and therefore were able to take hold of the whole cotton market and fund rapid industrialization.

Eventually the availability of cotton, increase in ready-made clothing and the luxurious reputation of cotton lead to cotton underwear replacing linen underwear (and eventually sheets) (the far superior option for the reasons I talked about here) in early Victorian Era. Before Victorian era underwear was very practical, just simple rectangles and triangles sewn together. It was just meant to protect the outer clothing and the skin, and it wasn't seen anyway, so why put the relatively scarce resources into making it pretty? Well, by the mid 1800s England was basically fully industrialized and resource were not scarce anymore. Middle class was increasing during the Victorian Era and, after the hard won battles of the workers movement, the conditions of workers was improving a bit. That combined with decrease in prices of clothing, most people were able to partake in fashion. This of course led to the upper classes finding new ways to separate themselves from lower classes. One of these things was getting fancy underwear. Fine cotton kept the fancy reputation it had gained first as an exotic new commodity in late 17th century and then in Regency Era as the extremely expensive fabric of queens and empresses. Cotton also is softer than linen, and therefore was seen as more luxurious against skin. So cotton shifts became the fancier shifts. At the same time cotton drawers were becoming common additional underwear for women.

It wouldn't stay as an upper class thing, because as said cotton was cheap and available. Ready-made clothing also helped spread the fancier cotton underwear, as then you could buy fairly cheaply pretty underwear and you didn't even have to put extra effort into it's decoration. At the same time cotton industry was massive and powerful and very much eager to promote cotton underwear as it would make a very steady and long lasting demand for cotton.

In conclusion, cotton has a dark and bloody history and it didn't become the standard underwear fabric for very good reasons.

Here's couple of excellent sources regarding the history of cotton industry:

The European Response to Indian Cottons, Prasannan Parthasarathi

INDIAN COTTON MILLS AND THE BRITISH ECONOMIC POLICY, 1854-1894, Rajib Lochan Sahoo

[arkipelagic]

Asian slaves, indigenous Americans, and identity in colonial era Mexico

The Spanish Philippines had a diverse slave population for local labor and export, including Filipino Indians [i.e. natives; indios], Muslim war captives (moros), and foreign slaves from as far away as Portuguese India.

… Upon their arrival, chino slaves [i.e. any Asian slave, not just Chinese] were absorbed by the urban economy of Mexico City, where they mainly worked as domestic servants or in textile mills (obrajes) … For their part, working in the city provided chinos with some possibilities for manumission. Chinos in domestic service were especially apt to embrace the limited opportunities available to them and to experience some social mobility. In the obrajes, chinos had few of the freedoms given to domestic servants, but they did benefit from government oversight of the industry. During official visits, chino slaves appealed for protection from overt exploitation by claiming that they were Indians (even if they were from Portuguese India). Remarkably, visiting inspectors listened to their complaints, and they often responded by liberating individual chinos under the assumption that they were indeed native vassals and could thus not be held in bondage. The overall experience of chinos in the viceroyal capital confirms the benefits of living close to the center of colonial power.

The presence of free indigenous immigrants from the Spanish Philippines in Mexico reinforced the idea that all chinos were Indians. The complex governing structure of colonial Mexico involved two republics or political communities (the república de indios and the república de españoles); this organization separated the indigenous majority from everyone else to facilitate the collection of tribute and the ministry of the Catholic Church … [N]ative immigrants from the Philippines purposely sought to confirm their membership in the Republic because corporate status provided personal advantages. They asked to be tallied in tribute rolls in Mexico to benefit from concomitant privileges, such as trading rights and legal representation through the General Indian Court. At the same time, free Filipinos were frequently confused with chino slaves - a situation that had serious consequences for Filipinos' relations with colonial institutions and enslaved individuals. Some immigrants resented having their indigenous identity questioned and sought to maintain a sense of their Indian-ness by keeping their distance from chino slaves. The majority, however, expressed solidarity with chino slaves. Filipino artisans, for example, took on chino slaves as apprentices and taught them marketable skills. Similarly, Filipino traders incorporated chinos into their own credit networks to facilitate self-purchase.

Individual chinos who were manumitted also embraced an Indian identity, regardless of whether they were from Goa, Macau, or other places in South and Southeast Asia. In this way, chinos challenged official attempts to define them solely as former slaves. Instead, they sought to join the free republic. The possibility for this kind of social integration caused widespread concern among slave owners. To defend their property rights, masters started to brand chino slaves on the face, rather than on the chest or arm as they did with Africans, in order to dissuade them from fleeing and "passing" as free Indians. This horrifying development shows that Indian communities welcomed runaway chino slaves and, by extension, that slave owners sought visible markers of their slaves' status.

Excerpt from the Introduction to “Asian Slaves in Colonial Mexico: From Chinos to Indians” (2014) by Tatiana Seijas

[probablyasocialecologist]

Had it not been for the steady stream of cheap raw cotton flowing out of the New World (which supplied nearly three-quarters of Britain’s imports of raw cotton), the British cotton industry would have never been able to play such a central role in Britain’s industrialisation. As David Washbrook notes, ‘[c]otton was exceptionally well-placed to lead the move towards mechanization: but favourably placed precisely because its raw material came from abroad’. That the British were able to outsource the production of raw cotton to the Americas – where the costs of production and labour in particular were considerably lower – was central to their industrial takeoff in the 18th century. Through the institution of the slave plantation in the colonies, capitalists were able to significantly reduce the costs of constant capital in the form of raw materials. Without this key input, it is highly unlikely British manufactures could have overcome the formidable competition from Indian cotton textiles, which even in the mid-18th century still held a leading position in world markets. The ‘workshop of the world’ was thus built on the foundations of plantation slavery.

Alexander Anievas and Kerem Nişancıoğlu, How the West Came to Rule: The Geopolitical Origins of Capitalism

[hindulivesmatter]

I'm from the USA and took a lot of Indian history courses at my university. You might already know this or have guessed it, but a lot of what we learned was taught from a leftist--and at times explicitly Marxist--perspective. This was even stronger in other (but thankfully not all!) social studies departments where there were classes focusing solely on various social ills of Hinduism with regard to caste and issues of feminism, yet almost nothing negative could be said if it might be critical of Islam or Muslim figures, (Mahmud of Ghazni being a notable exception for one of my professors.) There was a whole class on British colonialism; no details were spared. Horrible famines in the Deccan, Odisha, Bengal. The decimation of the textile industry. Banning bharatanatyam. The salt tax. Accounts of how a British man kicked one of his servants to death, and another of how the poor and sick congregated outside the gates of a hospital in the south that at the time would only help Europeans. Jallianwala Bagh. But Aurangzeb? Completely whitewashed. You would think Sikhs carry a kirpan for no reason. It was only through reading additional books and documents for my essays and projects that I learned about how he tore down temples, smashed murtis (and stole valuable ones,) levied a double tax on non-Muslims, etc. I remember reading an account of a traveler going through the south at the time of the Deccan wars, remarking on how you could find entire villages empty and deserted fields full of unharvested crops because the people had fled advancing armies. In one region his forces simply killed some Telugu-speaking Brahmins serving the local king rather than force them to convert, and in another his forces captured a royal scribe, forced him to convert to Islam, and forcibly circumcized him before the man killed himself. Obviously the history of all things under the umbrella of Hinduism or any other system is not perfect, but there was a huge difference in how critical you could be of Hinduism (and even western traditions/ideas) compared to Islam.

Sometimes I daydream about what it would have been like to study Sangam literature in India or to experience Andal without needing an English translation, or going to translate old Sanskrit copies of the Mahabharata whose telling is unique to a certain village or something. But ultimately I'm glad I chose to be a research scientist instead and have a career in that, because I don't think I would have been able to succeed in academia unless I were a leftist. :\ Honestly I feel like even going to hang out with ISKCON for a few days would be a better introduction to Hinduism for the average person abroad with zero knowledge than a class called "Intersections of Gender and Caste in Hinduism" or something.

Very telling how Hinduism, and even Christianity is ripped apart in academia, yet when it comes to Islam, it is a religion of "tolerance, and beauty that respects women."

Honestly, though, it's because of how severely they react when their religion is criticized or even inspected. Apostates are given death, women who do not obey are given death, anyone who utters a word against their precious prophets is given, you guessed it! Death.

No religion is perfect, humans can be horrific creatures, and even Hinduism cannot escape that. But Islam has committed far more war crimes than any other religion.

It absolutely boils my blood to see traces of colonizers in our cities. One side of my family hails from Aurangabad, named aftre Aurangzeb, and you already know the atrocities he committed.

It's so fucking insidious to see how the youth have been told what to think. My own friend claimed to me, verbatim: "You cannot be neutral in the Israel-Palestine war. Either you support Palestine, or you support genocide."

Support Hamas? Support terrorism? The same terrorism that affects us? Has everyone forgotten 26/11?

It makes me so sad to think of the future we could have had. Sanskrit would be the most spoken language, instead of English. Gurukuls would exist, and India would still have all of its wealth.

You're right, even ISKCON is better than the propaganda they feed people about our religion.

[empirearchives]

(Portrait of a young lady c. 1800-1805. Louis-André-Gabriel Bouchet. Fondation Napoléon, Paris.)

Flimsy Female Fashion in the Age of Napoleon

From NGV:

The garments worn by fashionable young women following the Revolution were famously dominated by muslin. In imitation of the ancient Greeks and Romans whose simplicity and elegance of dress was synonymous with democracy and the Roman Republic, post-Revolutionary Fashion set itself in opposition to the opulent artificiality of the Ancien Régime with its hooped and panniered skirts and elaborate embroidery and trimmings, by strutting a pared down simplicity in both style and material. Simply gathered, high waisted dresses of fine soft fabric, especially muslin, became the rage. The French interpretation of these classical garments came to be known as Empire style, whereas in England it became known as the Regency style. While muslin was the preferred fabric it came to have political and economic ramifications that were highly problematic for Napoleon.

Muslin is most typically an unbleached or white cloth, produced from finely combed cotton yarn. It originated in Northern India and first appeared in Europe in the 17th century. Becoming increasingly available with the English occupation of India in the 18th century, it found great popularity at the end of that century in France. Popular with British women in India, its open weave allowed the movement of air, and therefore was suitable for hot, dry climates. Muslin clothes were traded by ancient Greeks from the Indian port of Maisolos (or Maisala) and perhaps the name muslin originated from that place name. Marco Polo apparently praised the muslins available from India. The word muslin is also used colloquially. In the United Kingdom, many sheer cotton fabrics are termed ‘muslin’ and their uses are many; for instance, muslin is used for making various cheeses which require the milk solids to be separated from the whey.

Because the muslin trade was essentially cornered by the British, this delicate fabric had to be imported from England. This posed a serious problem for Napoleon – not only because he has closed French ports to English trade because of the hostilities between their countries (the Continental Blockade), but also because Napoleon was anxious to re-establish the textile industries in France following the Revolution. He was famously impatient with women around him who continued to wear muslin and was known to lose his temper with both Josephine and his step-daughter, Hortense, reportedly either tearing their fashionable dresses or spoiling them by dousing them with coffee and officially banning the wearing of muslin. His reasons were serious (though his temper must have been irksome) and connected with propping up France’s textile industry. He required formal dress to be worn at all times at court, thereby reintroducing a clientele for silks and velvet largely made in Lyon.

(Source)

[reshamandi03]

Was Indian textile sector always this successful, or were there any inventions or strategies that catapulted our country to the top 5 apparel and textile exporting countries in the world?

[foxnangelseo]

Investment Opportunities in India's Viscose Staple Yarn (VSY) Industry

The Indian Viscose Staple Yarn (VSY) industry is experiencing rapid growth, with revenue projected to reach an all-time high of over $2.5 billion in fiscal year 2023. Despite declining yarn prices, the industry's profitability is expected to improve by 200-300 basis points due to continued strong demand. VSY's appeal lies in its lower prices and comparable features, which have led to a compound annual growth rate of 13 per cent over the last three fiscal years, outpacing cotton yarn's growth rate of 5 per cent.

Competitive Prices: VSY's lower prices compared to cotton yarn have made it a popular choice among manufacturers and consumers alike. This cost advantage has contributed to the industry's sustained growth.

Steady Pricing: VSY prices have remained relatively stable, ranging between ₹200–₹250 per kg, providing confidence to stakeholders and fostering sustained demand.

Removal of Anti-Dumping Duty: The removal of anti-dumping duty on imports of viscose staple fibre (VSF) in FY2022 has further supported the stability of VSY prices.

The promising growth prospects of the VSY industry present attractive investment opportunities in India. As manufacturers' revenue improves and spreads between VSY and VSF expand, operating margins are expected to rise to 11-12 per cent. This creates opportunities for investors seeking lucrative sectors to invest in.

Furthermore, VSY makers have consistently expanded their capacities, with a 50 per cent increase in the past three fiscal years. They plan to add another ~15 per cent capacity in the current fiscal year, indicating their confidence in the industry's future. The capital-intensive nature of the VSY segment has resulted in regular debt-funded capacity expansion, but strong balance sheets have ensured that credit risk profiles remain comfortable, enhancing the industry's attractiveness for potential investors.

While the VSY industry is on a growth trajectory, it is essential to be mindful of potential challenges:

Anti-Dumping Duty Impact: Any reimplementation of anti-dumping duty on VSF could lead to higher input costs for viscose spinners, affecting profitability.

Demand Fluctuations: A decline in domestic demand for VSY or a slowdown in global demand could potentially impact the industry's growth prospects.

The Indian Viscose Staple Yarn (VSY) industry presents promising investment opportunities for those seeking to tap into the country's thriving textile sector. With a projected revenue growth of 10-12 per cent and improved profitability, the industry offers attractive returns for investors. As VSY continues to gain market share and outperform cotton yarn, the sector's growth prospects appear robust. However, investors must remain vigilant about potential challenges, such as changes in import duties and fluctuations in demand. Overall, the VSY industry demonstrates resilience and growth potential, making it an appealing investment option in India's dynamic economy.

This post was originally published on: Foxnangel

[fatehbaz]

Yes, it is critical to acknowledge the centrality of Britain to the world economy in order to understand how Chinese and Indian tea fitted into it. [...] Asian tea relied on forms of employment [...] such as independent family farms in China and indentured ‘coolies’ in India. [...] It would be very difficult to explain how and why Asian tea became driven by the modern dynamics of accumulation then, unless we connect China and India to the broader global division of labor, centered on the most cutting-edge industrial sectors in the north Atlantic. [...] But I also wish to reframe the idea of British capital as “protagonist,” because when we think about capital, agency is a weird thing. [...] Nothing about accumulation is inherently loyal to this or that region, though it has been concentrated in certain sites, such as nineteenth-century Britain or twentieth-century US, and it has been territorialized by nationalist institutions. Thus, although British firms drove the Asian tea trade at first, by the twentieth century Indian and Chinese nationalists alike protested British capital [...].

Most economic histories were focused on whether other countries could ever develop into nineteenth-century England. For labor historians, Mike Davis recently wrote, the “classical proletariat” was the working classes of the North Atlantic from 1838-1921. These modular assumptions jump out when you flip through the classics of Asian economic and labor history, almost always focused on some sort of textile industry (silk, cotton, jute) and in cities such as Shanghai, Osaka, Bombay, Calcutta. By contrast, I was really inspired by a field pioneered by South Asia scholars known as “global labor history” — especially the work of Jairus Banaji — which has been critical of the centrality of urban industry in economic history. Instead, these scholars reconsider labor in light of our current world of late capitalism, including transportation workers, agrarian families, servants, and unfree and coerced labor. These activities have enabled global capitalism to function smoothly for centuries but were overlooked because they did not share the spectacular novelty of the steam-powered factories of urban Europe, US, and Japan.

As far as how tea production worked: in simple terms, Chinese tea was a segmented trade and Indian tea was centralized in plantations known as ‘tea gardens.’ The Chinese trade relied on independent family farms, workshops in market towns, and porters ferrying tea to the coastal ports: Guangzhou (Canton) then later Fuzhou and Shanghai. By contrast, British officials and planters built Indian tea from scratch in Assam, which had not been nearly as commercialized as coastal China or Bengal. They first tried to replicate the ‘natural’ Chinese model of local agriculture and trade, but frustrated British planters ultimately decided to undertake all of the tasks themselves, from clearing the land to packaging the finished leaves. [...] Indian tea was championed as futuristic and mechanized. [...]

In India [...] the tea industry’s penal labor contract became one of the original cause célèbres of the nationalist movement in the 1880s. The plantations later became a site for strikes and hartals, the most famous occurring in the Chargola Valley in 1921. But even though tea workers chanted, “Gandhi Maharaj ki jai” at the time, Gandhi himself had allegedly visited Assam and declined to see the workers, meeting instead with British planters to assure them they were safe. While Indian nationalists had politicized indenture in Assam tea, their main complaint was the racialized split between British capital and Indian labor. Their remedy was not to liquidate the tea gardens but to diversify ownership over them. The cause of labor was subordinated to the nationalist struggle.

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Words of Andrew B. Liu. As interviewed by Mark Frazier. Transcript published as “Andrew B. Liu - Tea War: A History of Capitalism in China and India.” Published online by India China Institute. 23 March 2020. [Some paragraph breaks and contractions added by me.]

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Indian Textile Industry Current Scenario and Growth Opportunities

Learn About the Current Scenario of the Indian Textile Industry

In this article, we are going to have a look at the current scenario of the textile industry and the reasons behind the growth of the textile industry in India, starting with the current scenario of the textile Industry. The Indian textile industry is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 14.9%. In 2022, the current market size of the Indian textile industry was $172 billion, and it is predicted that by the year 2028, it is going to be $387 billion. The current market size of the textile and apparel industry worldwide is $910 billion, and it is growing at a speed of 4% CAGR. 

There are 2 major reasons behind the growth of the domestic textile industry. First, In the last decade the per capita income has risen by 35%. This gives some extra disposable income with people to spend on various things including clothes. The second reason is that 65% of the total population is below the age of 35. So India is a young country and youngsters buy more clothes and hence increase in domestic demand. 

Factors Leading to the Growth of the Textile Industry in India

China + 1 Policy: China is the textile manufacturing hub of the world, but in past years we have seen some volatility in the geo-politics. This volatility has made many countries look for an alternative and divide their purchases among several countries. This gives India a golden opportunity for the growth of the textile industry in India, fetch buyers from different countries and become the next textile manufacturing hub of the world. 

Government Scheme: The Indian government has now realized the potential of the textile industry of India. Now, the government is promoting it by introducing several schemes like PM MITRA, PLI, NTTM, SMARTH and giving the brand name Kasturi Cotton Bharat to Indian cotton for standardization and certification of it. The PM MITRA scheme is focused on making 7 integrated textile parks like the hub of t-shirt manufacturers in Tirupur. 

Innovation in Material: India can gain good market share globally in the textile sector by doing some innovation in technical textile material and biodegradable materials. Innovation in technical textiles could be feature based such as innovating antibacterial, anti moisture and UV-protection fabric. 

FTAs: The Indian government is working on signing the Free Trade Agreement [FTA] with many countries, with UAE and Australia FTAs having been signed. For the UK, Canada, and Europe, the negotiations are going on. China acquires 25% of the market of the above countries name mentioned. If India becomes successful in getting 15% of the market share in the countries mentioned above, then our exports in the textile sector will rise by $15-20 billion.  Improving Productivity: In order to attract more exports to our country, we have to work on improving productivity by integrating new technologies and digitalization into our production process. For example, innovation in polyester material could lead to attracting new exports of sports t-shirts in bulk.