§1What this business is

Fabric of many blends is spread and cut on cutting tables, edges are stitched on single-needle, double-needle and overlock machines, and pieces are decorated on embroidery machines or by hand with glass work, piping, patches, cords, danglers and buttons. The report prices products at ₹75–400 a piece and fabric at ₹90–140 a metre.

Capacity: Sales of ₹316.31 L a year at full capacity; ₹189.79 L at 60% in year 1.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

Someone with an eye for design and contacts with boutiques, wholesalers or tourist-market sellers.

Who it is not for

Someone who cannot follow fashion trends or manage stock of many designs.

Advantages

  • Shawls and stoles are worn year-round and gifted at festivals and weddings
  • Embroidery and handwork add value
  • Accessories and fabrics are easy to buy across India
  • Fits craft clusters and tourist markets

Drawbacks

  • Very thin margin — fabric is most of the cost
  • Fashion changes quickly
  • Winter items are seasonal
  • Large staff to manage

Skills you need

  • Design and colour sense
  • Embroidery and finishing quality
  • Fabric buying at the right price
  • Selling to boutiques, wholesalers and online

Why difficulty 3/5: Easy to set up, but thin margins and fast-changing fashion.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Women's wear retailers and boutiques
  • Wholesalers
  • Tourist and craft-market shops
  • Online shoppers

How it sells

  • Wholesale textile markets
  • Exhibitions and craft fairs
  • Online marketplaces

Good to know

  • The report says these products are mostly used by women, and shawls and scarves also by elderly men in cold weather.
  • Embroidery or handwork is the main way to add value.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Single-needle machines10₹6,00,000
Double-needle machines5₹3,75,000
Overlock machines2₹80,000
Cutting tables and cutting machines2₹2,00,000
Embroidery machines4₹2,00,000
Inspection tables2₹1,00,000
Storage system1 lot₹2,00,000

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Shawls, Stoles, Scarves and Wraps (2018) — private guide — confirm locally

  • Fabric of various types and blends₹90–140 a metre in the report; from fabric traders and mills
  • Embroidery thread, glass work, piping, patches, cords, danglers, buttons and ringsfrom tailoring material stores across India

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Shawls, Stoles, Scarves and Wraps (2018) — private guide — confirm locally

In our raw material database

Eri silk (spun yarn) →Raw wool →

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam registration
  2. GST
  3. Shops and Establishments registration
  4. Professional tax where the state levies it
  5. Factory licence, ESI and PF once worker numbers cross the limits

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

₹28.53 L fits PMEGP (manufacturing up to ₹50 L); the ₹12.93 L loan fits MUDRA and Stand-Up India (₹10 L–₹1 crore) for SC/ST and women founders; CGTMSE can guarantee it.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Plant and machinery ₹14.55 L, furniture and electrical ₹5.50 L, rent deposit ₹1.50 L, working capital margin ₹6.98 L = ₹28.53 L. No land or building — premises rented.

Working capital: Working capital ₹12.81 L (fabric stock is the largest part); margin ₹6.98 L, bank ₹5.83 L.

Prices from 2018 — machinery and building costs will be higher now.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Export council / board: Not verified yet

  • No HS code or export body has been checked against an official list yet.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Unsold designs going out of fashion
  • Fabric price rises on a thin margin
  • Seasonal slowdown
  • Competition from power-loom and imported products

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working shawls, stoles, scarves and wraps unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect

§12Watch

There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.

Want to start Shawls, Stoles, Scarves and Wraps?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Shawls, Stoles, Scarves and Wraps (2018)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.