SITRA in Coimbatore to set up laboratory for sportswear, athleisure wear

The South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) successful Coimbatore volition acceptable up a laboratory soon to trial fabrics utilized to marque garments for sports and athletics (sportswear and athleisure).

The Tamil Nadu authorities precocious announced successful its Interim Budget for 2026-27 that it volition springiness ₹6 crore to SITRA to acceptable up a laboratory.

Prakash Vasudevan, manager of SITRA, told The Hindu on Friday that a 2,000 sq.ft laboratory volition beryllium acceptable up soon with imported machinery to trial fabrics that are utilized to marque sportswear and athleisure wear. The Association has developed the required infrastructure astatine astir ₹30 lakh and is apt to walk different ₹30 lakh, isolated from the funds from the Tamil Nadu government, to acquisition the request equipment.

Less than fractional a twelve companies successful India marque these garments and determination is conscionable 1 laboratory successful Mumbai to trial the fabrics. Most of the manufacturers presently import fabrics to marque sportswear oregon athleisure wear. These fabrics request to beryllium tested regularly for assorted parameters - stretchability, moisture absorption capacity, softness, and truthful on. These garments are highly engineered close from yarn to finishing and are successful immense request successful India and abroad. When a institution imports the cloth samples, these request to beryllium tested to spot if the cloth volition conscionable the specifications of the garment. Setting up a laboratory for this intent volition promote much companies to spell successful for apparel utilized for sports and athletics, which are highly worth added. “The laboratory tin beryllium commissioned successful 3 months from the clip of receipt of funds,” helium said.

The SITRA has besides submitted a connection to the National Technical Textile Mission to acceptable up a installation present astatine ₹20 crore to make the fibre to marque yarn for these garments. If this task is sanctioned, it volition beryllium a large boost to accumulation of sportswear successful India, helium added.