Tirupur has traditionally produced knitwear and, in particular, established its name in India in the manufacture of cotton underwear. Tirupur also specializes in the low-volume mid-fashion market, particularly in the wear and supply of children and women to some of the world’s leading retailers.
Tirupur knitwear cluster has diversified its production portfolio from being manufacturers of simple knitwear for the lower end of the domestic market to a range consisting of t shirts, polo shirts, sportswear, sweat shirts, ladies’ dresses, children’s apparel, nightwear, etc. The cluster requires a significant degree of specialization in most areas including supply of machinery in addition to every area of the production operation.
Tirupur knitting industry employs more than 4 lakhs of people from neighboring districts and states, including both local and migrated labor force. In the Tirupur knitting industry the average ratio of male to female is 50 percent. Tirupur textile industry has units along the knitwear value chain starting from spinning, weaving, wet processing, printing, fabrication of garments, embroidery, compacting, calendar and exports. The Tirupur cluster comprises a total of 10000 units in different value chain.
Around 45 percent of India’s clothing is in the form of knitwear, and here the Tirupur Tamilnadu center plays a pivotal role, producing as much as 80 percent of the knitted clothing exports; in other words, around 4 percent of India’s total export trade.
Looking at the ever growing competition in the world market, there is a big need for the industry to upgrade itself with the latest technological and other developments taking place worldwide. That is why for providing these technologies under one roof, Knit Show was organised recently in Tirupur.
‘Knit-Show’ is a flagship expo brand owned by Knit Show Trade Exposition, Tirupur. For more than three decades, ‘Knit-Show’ has hosted various editions and is acclaimed to be Tirupur’s most comprehensive exhibition for the knitwear machinery, fabric and fashion accessory with gateway to billion dollar knitwear hub. The ‘Knit-Show’ exhibition was recently held at ‘Toplight’ Center, Tirupur from August 11 to 13. More than 450 exhibitors from Knitting, dyeing, Printing, Fussing, screen Printing Machines, digital printing, Embroidery, fabric & accessory and many more participated in the show.
The inaugural ceremony of the show was presided over by Tirupur Exporters Association’s President Subramanyam, inaugurated by South Indian Banyan Manufacturers Association (SAIMA) President Easwaran along with other Association Presidents, in the presence of leading industrialist’s players.
Over the years, ‘Knit-Show’ has acquired a vast clientele in the knitwear industry. Almost all the leading companies participated in the show. According to Krishna, Managing Director “The 21st ‘Knit-Show’ has been more popular than any show ever held in Tirupur as nearly 22,000 people visited the three-day exhibition with over 400 stalls displaying their latest products. A large number of visitors from the textile sector and traders from Tirupur, Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Salem and Namakkal Districts visited the ‘Knit-Show’ exhibition. In spite of low market sentiments we had a successful show” he added.
