India with strengthening its intellectual and manufacturing base with the strong support of infrastructural, technological and IT sector has given it the true feel of global success. Over the years, the country has experienced the development of some regions as specialized in niche products, making it more convenient for international players to source and work in India. Some of such garment industry hubs are Ludhiana, Bangalore, Delhi, Tirupur and Jaipur.

Each region functions as independent identities, self sufficient in the technical, raw material and labour needs of specific products.

LUDHIANA: KNIT APPAREL
Centre has created a niche for small quantities of high value products. Ludhiana holds the traditional strength in flat knit apparel. It has specialization in T-shirts, sweaters of both woolen and cotton blends.

Work Culture: Apart from the vertically integrated units rest of the garment industry work thru sub contractors i.e. out house job workers. Most units have complete garmenting facilities in-house other jobs like procurement of yarn, knitting, Dying, Printing, Embroidery are given to the outhouse job workers.

Technology: The hub is equipped with processes to provide innovation and value-addition to flat knits which is in great demand with the buyers.

Major global brands, sourcing from India includes SEARS, Target, Espirit, GAP, H&M, Tom Taylor and NEXT.

Major Exporters: Oswal Group, Nahar Group, Vardhman, Greatway, Goyal Knitwears, Mohini Exports and Bhandari Exports.

BANGALORE: TROUSERS & STRUCTURED GARMENT DESTINATION

The city is fast emerging as the techno-savvy structured garment manufacturing centre with the tag of IT hub. City with sound base of latest technology and IT Systems for high productivity in basic garments like trousers and jackets. Even factories from other states have invested in Bangalore for production of trousers and structured garments. Besides technology city has advantage of skilled labour and technical know how that this region has acquired over time. Two of the most techno-savvy factories are Silver Spark and Everblue, both from the house of Raymonds.

Government Support: Recently it has got government support from the Union Finance Ministry in the form agreement to provide an additional Rs. 1,000 crore for the textile sector under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) during the current financial year.

Major Players: Gokaldas Exports, Gokaldas Images, LT Karle, Sonal Garments, Texport Syndicate and K Mohan.

Other players not in the line of apparels have also come up to take advantage of the developed strengths in trouser and structured garments. The focus in this region is on production efficiency and training to match international standards in manufacturing.

TIRUPUR: KNITWEAR

The city has witnessed the fastest growth of the knitwear sector from India in the last 10 years, largely because of the infrastructural development the city has experienced during this time. It is one of the largest foreign exchange earning towns in India. There are some 7,000 garment units in the town that provides employment opportunity to close to one million people. More than fifty per cent of India's total knitwear exports come from Tirupur.

Factory Set-up: Integrated set-up either within the company or at arms length and its cost effective production are the biggest strengths with manufacturers located in Tirupur. Totally integrated nature of knitwear production leads to not only improvement in quality but also value-addition and fast track fashion.

Technology: It is a key driver of Tirupur textile industry. Vendors are investing in capacity and improved systems for bigger gains.

Apparel Park : An initiative by the Tirupur Exporters' Association is to promote a state-of-the-art Netaji Apparel Park at Tirupur spread over a sprawling 220-acre land in the Avanashi-Perumanalloor National Highway, New Tirupur. Its self-sustaining area provided with every facility to attract international buyers which includes facilities like power, water, R&D facilities, Auditorium, Conference Halls, Buyers lounge, Working Women's hostel, etc.

Major Players: Eastman Exports, SP Apparels, SCM, Best International, Centwin, Network Clothing and Stallion Garments.

DELHI: INNOVATIVE AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS

Delhi based garment industry is known for its ability to develop innovative products and focus on value addition. Some of the key features of Delhi as garment industry hub are:

Ability to adapt the changes in fashion industry: Delhi being a vibrant metro city resourced with information on latest trend, fashion, fabric, designs, technology is able to produce more diverse products.

Expertise in handling various fabrics: Most of the factories in Delhi - NCR region are flexible in operations with the ability to handle different styles and fabrics on a regular basis.

Manpower: The labor in this area is mostly migrants and men dominate the machines with heavy focus on value-addition and embellishments.

Investment in technology driven factories: Many companies have invested for producing more structured and basic garment. However some of these companies who are big players exceptionally thought to serve customer with multi products rather than losing business to other regions specializing in such products. Technology is primarily focused on basic sewing and value addition machines.

Adjoining Cities: Gurgaon, Manesar, Faridabad, Noida and Khandsa are also specialized in manufacturing ladies' and kids' fashion wear.

Major Players: Orient Craft, Shahi Exports, Modelama, Richa Garments, Orient Clothing, SPL, Pearl Global, Matrix, Addi Industries, all of whom have created excellence in diverse product ranges and are servicing some of the best retailers / brands in the global market.

JAIPUR: HANDICRAFTS AND TRADITIONAL PRINTS

Jaipur is famous for its Handwork and Traditional Prints. It is evolved as the small quantity high fashion centre for handwork products.

Bandhani:
Its making process includes mainly three stages: tying (knotting) of cloth, then dunking it into color solution and at then fabric is open out into amazing designs in kaleidoscopic colors: dots, circles, squares, waves and stripes. The main colors used in Bandhani are yellow, green, red and black. Cotton and silk fabric is used for it. The royal turbans of the Rajputs and the odhnis of their women are made by this method of dyeing.

One variation to bandhani is laheriya: It forms designs of diagonal stripes. It has process similar to bandhani, here fabric is rolled diagonally from one corner to the opposite, bound tightly at intervals and then dyed. The bound fabric are then untied and the process is repeated by diagonally rolling the adjacent corner toward the opposite and then process is repeated.

Block-printing:
Jaipur has a tradition of printing with finely carved wooden blocks. This method, though laborious, is actually quite simple and merely calls for precision. The cloth is laid out on a flat surface then freshly dipped block is hand pressed on to the fabric to form a continuous, interlocking pattern. The block carries dye if the original color of the cloth has to be preserved. Traditional block-printing relies on the use of natural dyes and pigments which makes it eco-friendly product.

Products: Cushion Covers, Mats, Quilts, Bed sheets, Bandhej, Indian Sarees, Pachmina, home furnishing and fashion accessories.

Buyers: The city is very popular with Japanese buyers looking for fashion items and boutique owners across the globe.

Major Players: Garment Craft, KK International, Goyal Fashions, Choice Fashions, Sopra International.