Apparel exporters in Tirupur want to transform the cluster into a zero defect textile hub. They feel if they can achieve even a 10 per cent reduction in waste and defect, it would help the industry save almost Rs 2000 crores annually. The knitwear fashion institute established by apparel exporters has already undertaken several initiatives to equip the industry with the latest skills and techniques toward achieving a zero defect efficiency level.

More than 80 per cent of the industries in this sector are medium and small scale. It’s estimated that the total cost of upgradation and skill development would amount to Rs 124 crores. Knitwear exports from Tirupur grew 12 per cent in 2015-16 compared to the previous year.

The share of Tirupur knitwear exports in India’s total garment exports is 20 per cent. Exporters want a one-time long term initiative to be undertaken to uplift the skill proficiency of existing laborers in order to increase productivity at par with competing countries and at the same time reduce waste.

Exporters also feel this is the right time for the knitwear sector to capture the market that’s leaving China, due to an increase in cost of manufacturing. If the opportunity is missed, the market would be captured by competing countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia.