The story
Solapur became a textile town in the late 1800s when cotton mills were set up near the cotton belt and the railway. Padmashali weavers who came from Andhra Pradesh brought the skill of weaving chaddars, and after the big mills closed, thousands of small powerloom units took over. Terry towels were added later and are now exported. Both the Solapur chaddar and the Solapur terry towel were among India's first GI registrations in 2005.
In numbers
The Terry Towel Cluster (SPV: Terry Towel Cluster Ltd.) had 47 functional units, exports of Rs 400 crore and employment of 40,000 persons; products: cotton terry towels, chaddars and grey fabric.
Brief Industrial Profile of Solapur District, MSME-DI (Ministry of MSME) · 2012Solapur Chaddar (GI Application No. 8) and Solapur Terry Towel (GI Application No. 9) were both registered on 19-09-2005; the applicant is the Textile Development Foundation, Solapur.
GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 9, Solapur Terry Towel · 2005
GI tag
- Solapur ChaddarApplication no. GI Application No. 8, Certificate No. 12 (19-09-2005)GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 8, Solapur Chaddar
- Solapur Terry TowelApplication no. GI Application No. 9, Certificate No. 13 (19-09-2005)GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 9, Solapur Terry Towel
Ways in for a newcomer
- Export-quality terry towels and bath robes for hotel and hospital supply
- Branded online sale of GI-tagged Solapuri chaddars
- Dyeing, embroidery and printing job-work for towel makers
- Hotel linen supply and laundry contracts
Problems the cluster faces
- Power cuts and power cost
- Raw material (cotton yarn) price swings
- Competition from Panipat, Karur and imports
- Delayed payments from large buyers
Businesses to start here
Towel Manufacturing →Bedsheet Weaving Unit (Power Loom) →Bed Linen Stitching Unit (Bed Sheets and Pillow Covers) →Textile Made-Ups (Napkins, Mats, Aprons) →Commercial Hotel Laundry and Linen Management →Home Furnishing Stitching Unit →