The Hindu : Front Page : Chennimalai textile goods go to the U.S.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006

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Chennimalai textile goods go to the U.S.

R. Sundaram

Erode : Americans have taken a fancy to textile goods from Chennimalai, it seems. Last year they bought goods worth over Rs. 2 crore for Christmas. Chennimalai is well-known for handlooms and powerlooms. Huge quantities of special varieties of bedsheets, towels, bedspreads and screen clothes find their way to the United States.

Some powerloom cloth producers of Chennimalai had sent selected varieties of bedsheets, bedspreads, hall and window screens and towels to the U.S. last year. They were printed with motifs of Christmas trees, Santa Claus and children lighting candles etc. During the Christmas season alone goods worth more than Rs. 2 crore were sent to the U.S. and cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Washington and other important places. For this year's Christmas too Chennimalai powerloom weavers are preparing goods in exquisite designs and attractive colours. The designs are kept secret. Powerloom owners say: "If we disclose the design now, others will start producing the same type and our regular business will be affected. Some, after copying our product, will dispatch spurious varieties. It will tarnish the image of Chennimalai". Powerloom Weavers Association president V.N. Swaminathan said the weavers were getting orders and by the middle of September they would get bulk orders.

Mr. Swaminathan said some select powerloom owners had sent samples to the U.S. agents through Karur Exporters.He hoped this year they would get from the U.S. orders worth minimum Rs. 3 crore . He said the Powerloom Weavers Association would organise a buyer-seller meeting in the U.S. in which the weavers would showcase powerloom and handloom goods collected from various weavers cooperatives and private handloom weavers.

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