Textile plays a very important role in Tamil Nadu’s economy. Tamil Nadu has a wide range of looms to facilitate the weaving of wide range of textiles and fabrics. The textile industry has both handloom and power loom, and employs 11.64 Lakh weavers in the state.
There are 3.20 lakh registered power looms covering 24,000 looms. The state houses the country’s largest spinning industry accounting for almost 80 per cent of the total installed capacity in India. When it comes to yarn production, the state contributes 40 per cent of the total production in the country.
Tamil Nadu Looms
Weaving is a special skill which only certain communities living in certain specific areas of Tamil Nadu possess. These techniques are usually handed down from generation to generation. Thus Handlooms are an integral part of the livelihood in many of the villages and towns in Tamil Nadu.
In fact, it is the family tradition for many of the households in various regions. Loom products are not only environment friendly, but they also represent the glorious cultural heritage of India while providing employment and self-reliance to the rural population.
What differentiates power loom and handloom products is the level of intricacy and detail that can be achieved manually in a handloom. Each region in India specialises in unique products like Kancheepuram silks, Madurai Sungadi, Pochampalli tie and dye, Chanderi silks, and Banaras silks. In the world of handlooms, Madras checks from Tamil Nadu are world famous.
The region around Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur, and Erode is referred to as the “Textile Valley of India”. Salem too is a major textile centre of Tamil Nadu with more than 125 spinning mills, weaving units and garment units. Today you see large-scale cooperative handloom weaving and marketing units in these regions making loom products globally popular.
The latest fashion can be fused with tradition. Designer products can be made to specific order using only handlooms. Coimbatore is often referred to as the “Manchester of South India” due to its cotton production and textile industries.
Tirupur is the country’s largest exporter of knitwear for its cotton production. Kanchipuram and Arani are world famous for their pure silk sarees and handloom silk weaving industries.
Tamilnadu Handloom Weavers′ Co-operative Society Ltd., popularly known as Co-optex, was established in 1935. Co-optex is engaged in marketing of Handloom fabrics produced in Tamil Nadu. This body has helped to keep alive the rich tradition of handloom weaving of the state.
The organization helps to boost the unique range of fabrics in hundreds of designs, colours, and textures and the well-honed skills of the weavers of Tamil Nadu.
