1. Post-COVID Recovery and Expansion :
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted global trade and confined people to their homes for much of 2020–21. However, the aftermath triggered a phenomenon known as “revenge shopping”, leading to a sharp and sudden surge in retail demand.
- Import constraints—such as container shortages and elevated shipping costs—prompted a shift toward local sourcing of fabrics and garments.
- Surat’s textile sector responded swiftly, expanding multi-fold across the value chain to meet this demand.
2. Modernisation in Weaving and Labor Adaptation :
The pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of labor-intensive operations, pushing the industry toward automation and modernization.
- Weaving units rapidly upgraded to water-jet and air-jet looms, replacing aging powerlooms.
- Early-generation looms were replaced by high-speed machines with advanced attachments for producing diverse fabric types.
- This move not only addressed labor shortages but also reduced lead times significantly.
3. Raw Material Trends :
- Yarn prices, which spiked sharply during the early post-COVID period, eventually stabilized at manageable levels, helping keep production costs under control.
- Demand for viscose-based fabrics—including 100% viscose, PxV (polyester-viscose), and NxV (nylon-viscose)—surged, driving a boom in air-jet loom installations.
4. Rise of Knitted Fabrics and Domestic Substitution :
- With import substitution a priority, demand rose for locally-produced knitted fabrics.
- Warp knitting machines saw higher installation rates, driven by increased usage in curtains, upholstery, tapestries, and fine mesh fabrics.
- Circular knitting became widely popular for informal wear and nightwear, as the fabrics are soft, breathable, lightweight, and cost-effective.
5. Technological Advancements in Specialty Weaving :
- The demand for decorative fabrics like sarees and dress materials with motifs and designs led to a spike in rapier looms with Jacquards.
- To offset the slower speed of rapier looms, manufacturers adopted multi-width weaving (especially triple-width)to boost output and reduce per-unit costs.
6. Surat's Current Capabilities :
Today, the Surat weaving and textile industry stands out as a comprehensive supplier across all fabric types and usage segments.
- Equipped to handle both weaving and knitting across a variety of fibres and blends.
- Can supply fabric suited for traditional or digital printing, dyeing, embroidery, and self-woven or top-dyed designs.
- Caters to diverse segments, including fashion apparel, home furnishing, and industrial textiles.
7. The Road Ahead: Garments and Export :
With fabric production capacity now robust and diverse, the next logical step in Surat’s textile growth is:
- Scaling up garment manufacturing
- Boosting direct fabric exports
This vertical integration would add significant value and help Surat emerge as a global textile and apparel hub.