Handloom industry

The free market in 2005 will put pressure on the RMG industry (competition), hence it is time to diversify and popularise handloom (including khadi) garments locally through fashion shows, to encourage the young generation, who are still obsessed with foreign labels. It will generate the feel for exporting such goods.

One point to notice for the exporters is that handmade garments and textile fetch very high prices in the developed countries (long man-hours in contrast to high speed production of fabrics on automated machines). Our R&D on cotton production has to be modernised, with better varieties in the market.

We have a big market for lungie and ghamcha (towel).

Similarly, the silk industry has to face keen competition from other Asian countries. Mix tradition and modern trends. How to encourage the private sector on entrepreneurship in the handloom industry?

The NGOs are contributing positively towards the handmade production of clothes and materials (Aarong computerised department store in an example), hence there should be close collaboration between the official policies and field assistance.

One area is neglected: handloom clothes for office goers (formal wear), in contrast to a large variety of leisure time garments available in the market. The absence of safari suits and Hawaiian shirts is keenly felt in this hot and humid climate.

The politicians in power can play a pivotal role in setting trends by analysing the working of the bureaucracy in more details.