Garment Manufacturing In India - A Look At The Past & Present Of The Industry

Garments are a basic necessity of life, and India being one of the oldest civilisations in the world, has perfected the craft of developing garments for centuries. India has not only produced garments for themselves, but their reputation preceded them as they exported their garments and other handicraft items from the time of ancient civilisations. So, let’s take a look at the garment manufacturing industry in India, how it came to be, what its current scenario is, and its plans for the future.

How The Indian Garments Industry Evolved

The organised mass-producing garments industry didn’t come to India until the arrival of the British. Previously India still manufactured and even exported their garments, especially cotton, but it was not through organised large-scale industries and more through small-scale communities. There is history that proves that even in ancient times, India used to export cotton to Egypt and other western countries.

As time passed and the Mughals came to India, they helped the Indian garments industry grow many folds. In the middle ages, India was exporting garments to various parts of the world, and their silk and cotton garments had great demand in the west. One of the countries where the demand was exceptional was Great Britain. This is because 25% of the entire imports of the East India Company were Indian textiles and garments.

After the wake of the Industrial Revolution and the colonisation of India by the British, they cracked down on the Indian textile industry and massacred the artisans. It was in an effort to cripple the industry and force Indians to have to purchase British factory-made garments. To sprinkle salt in the wounds, they also set up factories, assembly lines, and mills in India to modernise the industry.

The Indian Garments Industry In Modern Post-Independence India

Post-independence of India in 1947, the Indian government tried its best to restore the community-based small-scale garment industries and was successful to some extent. Alongside that, the government also encouraged the mills and assembly line factories to grow to meet the requirements of the growing population. This was the start of the modern Indian garments industry that balanced ancient traditions and modern technologies to create garments that won people's hearts across the world.

Today, the garments industry in India is growing exceptionally well because of certain factors, such as

• The availability of raw materials like cotton is in abundance. India is the world’s largest producer of cotton. India also stands atop the production of jute, which is also heavily used in the garments industry.

• The massive production of synthetic materials like polyester. India is the fourth largest producer of polyester in the world.

• The easy availability of domestically available skilled labour that has been trained for generations.

• A large population is dependent on the industry to meet their basic needs for clothing.

• Excellent international relations with various countries and Free Trade Agreements with foreign countries.

Goals Of The Indian Garments Industry For The Future

Adapting To Latest Technologies

The Indian garments industry aims to utilise technology and all the various tools it has made available to increase factory outputs. The increased output will allow companies to meet domestic requirements better and export the surplus for added profits and growth.

Moving Towards Sustainable Infrastructure

India houses some of the top most polluted cities in the world. To counteract the pollution, all major industries in India, including the textile and garments industry, are moving towards sustainable and eco-friendly production of their products. This is one of the goals of the garments industry in the future.

Conclusion

So, this was a look into the garments industry in India and the past, present, and future of the textile, apparel, and garments industry. If you want to learn more about garment manufacturing in India, check out CheerSagar. You can also avail the garment contract manufacturing and exporting services to take your brand and products to the next level. For more information, check out CheerSagar.

Meta Description - Understand how garment manufacturing in India has evolved over time. Check the steps taken by the government of India over the years to boost the garment industry.