Value-Added Textiles Will Be the Growth Engine for India
December 30, 2021 Value-addition will be the driver in Indian textiles.
That was part of the discussion during the South India Textile Research Association’s (SITRA) 33rd Technological Conference. The need to grow the textile industry beyond its established strengths such as spinning and knitting is a key topic.
Dr. Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, noted industrialist and the Chairman of SITRA Council of Administration, called on the industry to actively participate in the research institute’s project. Noting that capacity addition is happening not only in spinning but also in areas such as home textiles and made-up garments, collaborative efforts are needed, he added.
SITRA has been playing a vital role in helping the Indian textile sector enhance its knowledge base and manufacturing capability in medical textiles.
Excellence in cotton research and development must be translated into value-added textiles, stated Dr. S.K. Sundararaman, Vice-Chair of The Southern India Mills Association.
In his welcome address, Dr. Prakash Vasudevan, Director of SITRA, also made a call for greater interaction of industry personnel with other institutes to translate technologies to commercial scale.
Industry and academia participation is vital in moving the textiles sector to the next level. In this aspect, a collaboration between this scribe and Jayalakshmi Textiles, a 73,000-spindle cotton spinning mill, has resulted in a sustainable industrial textile product. Texas Tech University has been collaborating with this textile mill in developing value-added cotton products that have applications beyond the regular fiber-to-fashion supply chair.
Translation of research to reality is the need of the hour. Such technological conferences provide much needed support to help grow the industry.
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