Fall in demand of fashion fabric hits city’s warp-knitting industry

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 25

The price of FDY polyester, a yarn used in warp-knitting industry, has come down to Rs80 per kg from Rs 135.

Once-thriving, the warp-knitting industry has lost its steam due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has forced people to re-plan or cancel their weddings and other functions.

The city has between 400-600 manufacturing units using polyester yarn. Before Covid the industry was recording an annual turnover of around Rs2,000 crore. The warp-knit fabric is widely used in party dresses.

Hit by Pandemic

• The warp-knitting industry has lost its steam due to Covid, which has forced people to re-plan or cancel their weddings and other events.
• Wrap knitting fabric is widely used in a range of items, including shoes, schoolbags, automobiles, curtains, bed sheets, briefcases, sportswear, helmets, travelling accessories.
• Industrialist feel the fashion fabric industry could be revived only after Covid- induced restrictions are lifted.

Krishan Kumar Kukku, a leading industrialist, said the fashion fabric industry could be revived only after restrictions on gatherings in marriages and other parties would be lifted.

Price of raw material used in warp knitting industry has fallen down considerably as the fabric widely used in fashion industry is no longer in demand.

Wrap knitting fabric, a branch of the textile industry, is widely used in a range of items, including shoes, schoolbags, automobiles, curtains, bed sheets, briefcases, sportswear, helmets, travelling accessories, men and women wears, besides many others.

Being a labour-intensive industry, these units provide employments to thousands. Before the lockdown the industry was looking for skilled artisans to run the businesses. The situation no longer exists. The services of labourers are no longer required as the factories are operating under capacity.

Another major player in the warp knitting industry, Ajay Mehra, said the factories would start functioning to their full capacity once they get starting orders from dealers. The present warp knitting industry here is struggling to gain momentum.