Our production capacity has increased to more than 1,00,000 metres a week
Kishor Traders is an India-based manufacturer and exporter of high-quality narrow woven elastic tapes, serving customers across various industries. With a commitment to superior craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, the company aims to redefine the standards of excellence in elastic tape manufacturing and distribution. In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, the company’s Owner Kishorchandra Jariwala discusses narrow woven elastic tapes, their characteristics, applications, and more.
Can you elaborate on the production process of narrow woven elastic tapes and the materials commonly used in their manufacturing?
Narrow woven elastic tapes are essential components in intimate apparel to provide support, hold the garment in the right position, create a finished edge, and give aesthetic effects. Applications include bra straps, elastic bands, and fold over elastics. They can be produced by either weaving or warp knitting. We manufacture woven elastic tapes which are usually smoother, finer, and flatter than crochet elastic tapes. Elongation, modulus, durability, hand feel, and aesthetics are the key criteria in the selection of narrow woven elastic tapes for intimate apparel.
Material Selection: The choice of materials depends on the specific requirements of the elastic tape. Commonly used materials include:
- Elastic Fibres: The elastic component of the tape is typically made from natural rubber latex or synthetic elastic fibres such as spandex (also known as Lycra or elastane). These fibres provide the stretch and recovery properties to the tape.
- Cover Yarns: Cover yarns are used to wrap around the elastic fibres, providing strength, stability, and enhancing the appearance of the tape. They can be made from various materials like cotton, polyester, nylon, or a blend of these fibres.
Warping: In this step, the warp yarns (longitudinal yarns) are wound onto a beam called a warp beam. The number of warp yarns depends on the desired width of the tape.
Weaving: The warp beam is mounted on a loom, and the elastic fibres are fed into the loom along with the cover yarns. The loom interlaces the warp and weft (crosswise) yarns to form the woven structure of the tape. Different weaving patterns, such as plain, twill, or satin weaves, can be used to achieve specific aesthetic or functional characteristics.
Finishing: After weaving, the tape goes through various finishing processes to enhance its appearance and performance. These processes may include washing, dyeing, printing, or applying special treatments like silicone or antimicrobial finishes.
Cutting and Packaging: Once the tape is finished, it is cut into the desired lengths and widths. It is then packaged and prepared for distribution or further manufacturing.
It is important to note that the production process may vary depending on the specific machinery, equipment, and techniques used by different manufacturers. Additionally, advancements in technology have led to the adoption of more automated and computerised processes, which can improve efficiency and consistency in production.
How do the applications of narrow woven elastic tapes vary across different industries such as apparel, medical, and sports?
Narrow woven elastic tapes find applications across various industries due to their stretchability, flexibility, and durability. Here are some examples of how these tapes are utilised in different sectors:
Apparel Industry
- Lingerie and Intimate Apparel: Narrow woven elastic tapes are commonly used in lingerie and intimate apparel, such as bras and underwear, to provide support, enhance fit, and ensure garment stability.
- Activewear and Sportswear: In athletic and sportswear, elastic tapes are used in waistbands, cuffs, and hems to provide stretch and comfort, allowing for ease of movement during physical activities.
- Swimwear: Elastic tapes are employed in swimwear to ensure a secure and snug fit, preventing garments from shifting or slipping during water activities.
Medical and Healthcare Industry
- Compression Garments: Narrow woven elastic tapes with high compression properties are used in compression garments, such as compression stockings or bandages, to improve blood circulation, reduce swelling, and support muscles.
- Orthopaedic Supports: Elastic tapes are utilised in orthopaedic supports, such as knee braces or ankle wraps, to provide gentle compression and support to joints and muscles, aiding in injury prevention and recovery.
- Surgical and Medical Devices: Elastic tapes are used in medical devices, including wound dressings, securing tubes or catheters, and providing gentle fixation of medical equipment.
Sports and Outdoor Industry
- Equipment and Gear: Elastic tapes are employed in various sports equipment and gear, such as backpacks, straps, or harnesses, to provide flexibility, adjustability, and secure fastening.
- Protective Gear: Elastic tapes are utilised in protective gear, like helmets, shin guards, or elbow pads, to provide a snug fit, absorb impact, and ensure the gear stays in place during physical activities.
Industrial and Manufacturing Sector:
- Automotive: Elastic tapes find applications in the automotive industry for seat covers, upholstery, and headliners, where they provide elasticity, secure attachment, and resistance to wear and tear.
- Furniture and Upholstery: Narrow woven elastic tapes are used in furniture manufacturing to provide stretchability and secure attachment of upholstery fabrics, ensuring a tailored and long-lasting finish.
These are just a few examples of how narrow woven elastic tapes are used across different industries. The versatility of these tapes allows for their application in a wide range of products, providing functional and aesthetic benefits to various sectors.
Could you discuss the key characteristics that a high-quality narrow woven elastic tape should possess?
The following are the key characteristics that a high-quality narrow woven elastic tape should possess:
Elasticity and Recovery: A high-quality elastic tape should have excellent elasticity, allowing it to stretch and recover without losing its original shape or performance. It should be able to retain its elasticity even after repeated stretching and usage.
Strength and Durability: The tape should be strong and durable, able to withstand the stresses and strains of regular use. It should have good tensile strength, resisting breakage or deformation under tension.
Consistent Width and Thickness: A high-quality elastic tape should maintain consistent width and thickness throughout its length. This ensures uniformity in appearance and performance, facilitating proper integration into various products.
Softness and Comfort: The tape should possess a soft and smooth texture, ensuring comfort against the skin. It should not cause irritation, chafing, or discomfort during prolonged wear.
Secure Grip: The tape should have a secure grip, providing reliable support and preventing slippage or shifting of the garment. It should maintain its grip even during intense physical activities.
Colourfastness: The tape should exhibit good colourfastness, meaning it should retain its colour even after exposure to washing, sunlight, or other environmental factors. This ensures that the tape’s appearance remains vibrant and consistent over time.
Resistance to Environmental Factors: A high-quality elastic tape should be resistant to environmental factors like moisture, heat, and chemicals. This resistance helps maintain its performance and durability under various conditions.
Compatibility with Manufacturing Processes: The tape should be compatible with different manufacturing processes, such as sewing, stitching, or bonding, ensuring easy integration into the final product.
Compliance with Safety and Regulatory Standards: The tape should meet applicable safety and regulatory standards, ensuring it is free from harmful substances and safe for use in various applications, including those involving direct skin contact.
Customisability: High-quality elastic tapes should be customisable to meet specific requirements, such as width, colour, pattern, or functional treatments, allowing manufacturers to cater to diverse customer preferences and industry needs.
These characteristics contribute to the overall quality, performance, and reliability of narrow woven elastic tapes. Manufacturers should prioritise these factors when selecting elastic tapes for their products to ensure customer satisfaction and product excellence.
What are the latest trends or innovations in the narrow woven elastic tape industry that are shaping its future?
The narrow woven elastic tape industry is subject to continuous innovation and adaptation to evolving market demands. Some of the factors impacting the industry are:
Sustainable Materials: The textile industry as a whole, including narrow woven elastic tapes, has been moving towards sustainability. Manufacturers are exploring eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and biodegradable fibres.
Advanced Technologies: Innovations in manufacturing processes have improved the production efficiency and quality of narrow woven elastic tapes. Automation and computerised systems are being used to enhance speed, precision, and consistency in the manufacturing process.
Customisation and Personalisation: Consumers are increasingly seeking unique and personalised products. Narrow woven elastic tape manufacturers are responding to this trend by offering customisation options, allowing customers to choose colours, patterns, and designs according to their preferences. This helps meet the diverse demands of various industries, including fashion, sportswear, and medical applications.
Performance Enhancements: The demand for narrow woven elastic tapes with enhanced performance characteristics has been growing. Manufacturers are incorporating innovations such as moisture-wicking properties, antimicrobial treatments, and stretch and recovery technologies into their products. These advancements aim to improve comfort, durability, and functionality for different applications.
Integration of Smart Features: The concept of smart textiles is gaining traction in the industry. Manufacturers are exploring the integration of electronics, sensors, and connectivity into narrow woven elastic tapes. These smart features can enable functionalities like monitoring body movements, tracking health data, or integrating with other devices, opening up new possibilities for applications in healthcare, sports, and wearable technology.
Fashion and Design Trends: Narrow woven elastic tapes play a crucial role in the fashion industry, particularly in lingerie, swimwear, and activewear. Design trends are constantly evolving, and manufacturers are adapting to the changing preferences of consumers. This includes incorporating unique patterns, textures, and finishes into the elastic tapes to match the latest fashion trends.
How does the choice of narrow woven elastic tapes influence the comfort, fit, and durability of the final product, like undergarments or athletic wear?
The choice of narrow woven elastic tapes plays a crucial role in determining the comfort, fit, and durability of the final product, such as undergarments or athletic wear. Here’s how it influences each of these factors:
Comfort:
- Softness and Skin-Friendly Properties: The choice of narrow woven elastic tapes with soft and smooth textures can enhance comfort by minimising irritation or chafing against the skin. This is especially important for undergarments that come in direct contact with sensitive areas of the body.
- Breathability: Elastic tapes with good breathability properties allow air circulation, helping to maintain comfort by reducing moisture build-up and promoting a cooler and drier feel, particularly in athletic wear or garments worn during physical activities.
- Flexibility and Stretch: Elastic tapes that offer appropriate stretch and flexibility ensure comfortable movement without feeling too restrictive or causing discomfort.
Fit:
- Secure Fit: The choice of narrow woven elastic tapes with the right level of elasticity and grip helps to achieve a secure fit. It ensures that undergarments or athletic wear stay in place during movement, preventing slippage or shifting, and providing the necessary support.
- Even Distribution of Pressure: Well-designed elastic tapes distribute pressure evenly, enhancing the fit and minimising discomfort or pressure points on the body. This is particularly crucial for undergarments that need to provide support without causing discomfort.
- Adjustability: Elastic tapes with adjustable features, such as adjustable bands or closures, allow for customisation and fine-tuning of the fit, catering to individual preferences and body shapes.
Durability:
- Strength and Stability: The choice of high-quality narrow woven elastic tapes contributes to the durability of the final product. They should have sufficient strength and stability to withstand regular use, stretching, and washing without losing their shape or elasticity.
- Elasticity Recovery: Elastic tapes that maintain their elasticity and recovery properties over time ensure that the garment retains its shape, fit, and functionality even after repeated use and stretching. This is crucial for undergarments and athletic wear that need to maintain their performance and fit over a prolonged period.
- Resistance to Environmental Factors: Elastic tapes that are resistant to factors like moisture, heat, and chemicals exhibit improved durability. This resistance ensures that the final product can withstand different conditions and maintain its functionality and appearance.
Thus, by carefully selecting narrow woven elastic tapes that align with the specific requirements of the product, manufacturers can optimise comfort, fit, and durability. It is important to consider factors such as material quality, elasticity, texture, and compatibility with the garment’s design and purpose. This ensures that the final product provides the desired level of comfort, a secure fit, and long-lasting performance.
Can you tell us about the journey of Kishor Traders and its evolution over the years?
Initially, we used to manufacture narrow tapes which were manually woven. Even the elastic materials were cut manually. I still remember that we started the business in the house we lived, and all our family members used to help us with measuring, cutting and packing the products. Subsequently, we opened a new factory equipped with advance machinery, where everything was done automatically. However, till date the packing of the product is done manually in order to help the people who are the helping hands since we started the business. Our production capacity has increased from 500 metres to more than 1,00,000 metres a week now. We are now using only synthetic elastic fibre ‘Latex’ to make our products more reliable and long lasting. At Kishor Traders, we are also exploring eco-friendly materials, recycling processes, and sustainable production practices to reduce environmental impact and meet consumer demands for more sustainable products.
What do you believe sets your elastic tapes apart from other products in the market?
It is simple – our dedication to quality. Crafted with utmost precision, our elastic tapes are stretchable and flexible, making them ideal for products that require a snug fit or the ability to expand and contract effortlessly. We understand that comfort and functionality are paramount, and our elastic tapes are designed to meet these essential criteria.
How has your experience been in exporting your products both within India and outside, and what have you learned from it?
For now, we are focusing on the market in India and then we will expand internationally. One of the key factors contributing to our success is the trust and support we receive from our esteemed buyers. Reputed companies from Chennai, Ludhiana, Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar, Gujarat, and beyond have recognised the unmatched quality of our elastic tape and have become our loyal customers.
Some of our customers have been with us for more than 20 years due to delivery of goods on time and maintaining the quality of the elastic. We invite new clients to join our ever-growing list of satisfied clients and experience the excellence of our products firsthand.
How do you maintain the quality of your elastic tapes while also keeping them competitively priced?
Maintaining the quality of elastic tapes while keeping them competitively priced can be a challenging task. However, there are several strategies that we employ to balance quality and cost-effectiveness:
Supplier Selection: We have reliable suppliers who have been providing high-quality materials at competitive prices for a long time now. Building long-term relationships with trusted suppliers can also lead to more favourable pricing arrangements. It is a risk to change the supplier every time the price changes. So, some time we have to work with the market even with the minimum profit.
Efficient Manufacturing Processes: We implement streamlined and efficient manufacturing processes to optimise production costs without compromising quality. We continuously evaluate and improve our manufacturing techniques to eliminate waste, minimise defects, and enhance overall productivity.
Quality Control Measures: We implement robust quality control measures throughout the production process. This ensures that only products meeting the desired quality standards are released for sale.
By implementing a combination of these strategies, we maintain the quality of our elastic tapes while keeping them competitively priced. It requires a careful balance between cost optimisation and quality assurance, with a focus on efficiency, innovation, and continuous improvement throughout the production process.
What is your message to potential customers and partners as you take Kishor Traders to new heights in the global market?
At Kishor Traders, we are committed to revolutionising the elastic manufacturing industry and setting new benchmarks for quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. With our expertise and dedication, we aim to deliver exceptional elastic solutions that meet and exceed your expectations.
Here’s what sets us apart and why we believe you should choose us as your trusted partner:
Uncompromising Quality: Quality is at the core of everything we do. We adhere to stringent quality standards throughout our manufacturing processes, ensuring that our elastic tapes are of the highest quality, durability, and performance. We understand that your products deserve nothing but the best, and we deliver on that promise.
Innovative Solutions: We are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation in elastic manufacturing. Our team of experts stays ahead of the curve, exploring new materials, advanced technologies, and cutting-edge techniques to develop innovative elastic tape solutions that address your unique requirements. We strive to be at the forefront of industry trends and deliver solutions that give you a competitive edge.
Customisation and Flexibility: We understand that every customer and industry has unique needs. That is why we offer a wide range of customisation options to tailor our elastic tapes precisely to your specifications. From different widths, elasticity levels, and colours to specialised finishes or features, we work closely with you to create the perfect solution that aligns with your vision and requirements.
Customer-Centric Approach: Your satisfaction is our top priority. We believe in building strong and lasting partnerships with our customers and partners. We listen to your needs, communicate transparently, and provide proactive support at every stage of our collaboration. Our responsive and dedicated team ensures that your experience with us is seamless, from initial inquiries to after-sales support.
Sustainability Commitment: We recognise the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Our manufacturing processes prioritise eco-friendly practices, minimising waste, and reducing our carbon footprint. By choosing us, you align with our commitment to creating a more sustainable future while maintaining the highest standards of quality and performance.
We look forward to new collaborations and delivering exceptional elastic solutions that exceed your expectations.
