Even after decades of existence Tirupur Knitwear Cluster is concentrating mainly on high volume, standard cotton garments, which has low unit value realisation (UVR), even though opportunities exists to diversify its products like sportswear, swim wear and other functional textiles.
Reasons for the situation are many, like lack of awareness about the existence of market potential for such products, non availability information and technical support etc. Therefore, efforts were taken under the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Finance and Development Project (MSMEFD Project) of World Bank, to sensitise the opportunities that are existing for the exporters and the sources for getting technical support to manufacture such value added garment through a seminar on ‘Opportunities for Product Diversification at NIFT –TEA College of Knitwear Fashion between on 21 February 2010 between 10.30 AM to 4.00PM.
Dr.Mike G Bartle an international expert in manufacturing sportswear and performance wear; and is associated with manufacturing sportswear for leading international brands in the category, delivered lecture on the opportunities that exists for the knitwear manufacturers in Tirupur to diversify their product. He also illustrated, how a small organization started with 6 knitting machines in the UK have grown as an organization of international repute in sportswear, by integrating all the required facilities, gradually over period. He explained that product diversification need not be on larger scale, as any one presumes; it can be started with moderate investment and by utilising the surplus capacity that are available locally. He also informed that it was not necessary to start the business only by associating with big brands, one can work with even with smaller brands, or they can have their own brand too, considering the size of the market countries like India has.
However, he emphasized the technology involved; and the chemicals and process to be applied should be of world standard. But for that, it would be difficult to survive in the market, as it requires to consider various functional aspects like moisture absorption, anti microbial, anti static aspects in the garments.
Presently Dr. Mike G Barle is President of Society for Dyer’s and Colourists, the U.K .
Mr. C N Sivaramakrishnan, Consultant for specialized finishing in Mumbai and Honorary Secretary of Society for Dyers and Colourists, India, explained various types of finishing that could be given on the garments like water repellant, fire retardant, insect repellant etc. to make them most profitable one for the entrepreneurs in the retail market.
Mr.Parvez Koatadia, Country Manager, Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC), India explained the activities that are taken by the Society for propagating professional knowledge in colour and the efforts taken by them to support the students, institutions and the professionals to enhance their knowledge in colour; and the benefits that may accrue for the members of the Society.
Mr.S.Samiappan, President, Dyers Association of Tirupur inaugurated the seminar and explained the need for organizing such seminar to enrich the knowledge of the entrepreneurs in the knitwear cluster.
Mr.Raja M. Shunmugam, Chairman, NIFT-TEA College of Knitwear Fashion emphasized the need for inculcating such knowledge to the managers and to the students of NIFT-TEA College of Knitwear Fashion to empower them to serve to the industry better. He also advised to M/s Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd, the consultants for implementing the project, to conduct more prgorammes in areas like Lean Manufacturing to reduce the cost of operation in the industry and to make them more competitive.
Mr. S. Periyasamy, Deputy Director, Textiles Committee delivered key note address and explained the need for the industry to transform itself by adopting technological changes in every functional aspects to survive in the competition.
Mr.S.S.Sankaramoorthi , Senior Technical Advisor, Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd welcomed the dignitaries and the participants of the seminar; and assured to incorporate the suggestions s that were put forth by the Chairman of NIFT-TEA College of Knitwear Fashion in the action plan of the project for the coming years to ensure that human resources skills in the cluster become pillar stones for the growth of the Tirupur Knitwear cluster.
