Cotton knitwear has acquired a new and fashionable dimension in
Kerala. Today, come summer and it is time for cotton knitwear and every
year there is a seasonal spurt of T-shirt manufacturers who take
advantage of the season in India and abroad. Since 1980 the knitwear
market here for the local and export sections has acquired a new and
fashionable dimension. Initially a garment worn on the playgrounds, the
T-shirt began to attain a certain amount of dignity as designers looked
at it with new-found respect. It is therefore not surprising to see
cotton knitwear at informal functions or even in offices nowadays.
Knitwear forms a very important facet of the Indian readymade garment
industry. According to statistics, it accounts for nearly 35 per cent of
the total garment exports from India. In south India, most of the
knitwear is manufactured in Tirupur which was at one time a small shanty
township but later developed into a major production centre and now
accounts for nearly Rs. 850 crores of knitwear exports. This amounts to
nearly 40 per cent of India’s total knitwear outflow.
The main items in knitwear are elegant men’s T-shirts, fancy ladies
T-shirts with exquisite embroidery and sequined work, night shirts for
ladies and men’s pyjamas sets and sportswear and jogging suits and boxer
sets.From the original sinkerbody and interlock fabrics for knitwear
which had a problem of shrinkage and shape, the knitwear fabrics have
moved onto double sinker and interlock and a new ‘liquid’ jersey which
is a special blend of rayon and cotton.
India doing well
Techniques
of designing, printing, embroidery and dyeing of the fabric have become
well developed. Most of the countries where knitwear products are
exported from India cover a wide market area right from the mail order
and fashion houses in Europe to the trend setting boutiques in USA and
Canada. Japan, Australia and the Middle East are also important markets
for knitwear merchandise which have come of age.
With India doing well on the export front for knitwear, it is only
natural that the next step was to introduce the knitted garments in the
Indian market and this was done by several established exporters who had
the expertise and background in the business. Since knitwear exports
are limited and seasonal, most exporters entered the local market to
ensure continuity in production as garments in knits were more suited to
a tropical climate with a year round demand. Where knitwear scores in
the export and local markets is in children’s wear section. Cotton
knitwear is the ideal fabric for children’s wear worldwide because of
its comfort and easy styling. Right from newborns to teenagers both in
India and for export, Indian knitwear scores high on the buyer’s lists.
Innumerable variety
In
the Indian market the styles favoured are comparable to those available
in the West. T-shirts, skirts, dresses, leotards, bermudas, shorts and
even jackets are the best seller. While double sinker body is popular
for the export market its interlock that is favoured by the local
market. The most popular embellishments range from funky prints to
slogans, patches, appliqués, lace, sequins to wooden beads, shells, hand
painting and zardozi. The permutations and combinations are
mind-blowing. As far as silhouettes are concerned it varies from
from-fitted tube tops to the baggy sweat shirt and jogging pants.
With the body conscious look very much in vogue all over the world,
knitwear becomes the ideal form of clothing that can achieve the body
conscious look that is so much aspired for by designers and the fashion
elite. The knit fabric has the unique capacity of stretching to fit
snugly over the body and yet should the style demand it, can flow
freely. Dresses, skirts minis, midis, maxis, coats make an appearance.
Colourwise the selection is wild and vibrant. There is a lot of black
and ‘brights’ like red, fuchsia, navy, turquoise, emerald and purple.
But there is an equal amount of pastels as well.
In the local market the credit of uplifting the T-shirt, an humble
knitwear garment goes to ‘Smash’ T-shirts by Apeego Corporation in 1981
and soon the doors of the domestic business were flung open paving the
way for new entrants nearly every year. After the initial onslaught of
brands in the local market it was the professional who survived. Yet
every year new labels do make an entrance with fancy brand names.
Innovation and styling
Knitwear
varieties include the local range of Zee Club, Zee Kid and Miss Zee
line of knitwear garments in India. There are no specific figures
available regarding the sales of T-shirts in the local market unlike
export. But on a rough assessment the market is worth around Rs. 250
crores annually and growing. There are several branded garments in
knitwear in India and as many unbranded ones, and the competition is
very keen.
Knitwear ranges for the local and export market are presented twice a
year. While for the local market they are geared mainly for the summer
and festive seasons, for exports they are only aimed for the summer
season in the West. Each manufacturer presents nearly 100 styles per
season. Very often in the local markets, blends and acrylic knits are
very much in demand though for export it is only the cotton knit that is
favoured. While India has to compete with Hong Kong. Taiwan and Bangkok
in the export of cotton knits, it had managed to carve a special niche
for itself because of its innovations in styling and quality control. In
the local market it is the styling that makes all the difference while
in the export market it is the ultimate quality of the fabric and the
finish of the garment that is important.
The manufacturing of a T-shirt or a knit garment is very easy since it
requires little skill. Fabrics are easily available in the market and
can be styled and stitched without much effort. Export surplus stock is
available at throwaway prices. Knitwear today has become an accepted
form of wear because of the new emphasis on leisure and casualness. With
the increase in jeans and denims, the T-shirt or a knit garment is the
perfect accompaniment.
