About Surat India

Surat, which is better known as the Textile city of India, is in the state of Gujarat. This city is famous for its exquisite silks and brocades since early times. The textile industry in Surat has been a major contributor to the city’s financial and economic development. Surat is also famous for its diamonds and houses many diamond-cutting units. Majorities of people of this city, however, are engaged in the textile industry. Numerous mills present in the city together spin around 2.5 crore meters of polyester, rayon, nylon, and other synthetic fabrics.

Textile Industry in Surat

Though most of the industries in Surat are engaged in the production of various man made synthetic fabrics and textiles like silk, cotton, rayon, nylon polyester etc, along with other textile related activities like weaving, processing and yarn production, many of these textile industries have now taken to embroidery of various materials and textiles as it is gaining in popularity among people all over the world to day and presents a great scope for export. Every day millions of raw fabric and processed fabric are being churned out from the various factories here. The textile Industry in Surat has shown considerable growth in recent years with the market for embroidered items showing significant growth.

Types of Textile Industries in Surat

  Sensing the great demand for embroidered textiles not only in India but also abroad especially the European, Middle East and American markets, a number of industries catering to the embroidery of various types of textiles have been set up exclusively in Surat. Other than embroidery units, various other textiles industries manufacturing various textiles like art silk, polyester garments, cotton based fabrics, polyester and cotton blended fabrics have been successfully manufacturing these materials. Recently more industries are taking up zari and gold embroidery in different types of work and designs in saris and dress materials. In Surat, it is not difficult to locate any type of textile industry as all textiles are manufactured here.

 Challenges faced by Textile Units in Surat

Though the textile industry in Surat has been growing steadily over the years due to huge demand for the textiles it has also suffered a few setbacks. Various natural calamities like floods have caused the textile industries to suffer great losses but the industry has been one to recover quickly. Power cuts and labor problems are other setbacks that the textile industries face. The embroidery industry especially is suffering due to shortage of skilled labor. Most of the laborers working in the textile industry are from various states like Orissa, Bihar Uttar Pradesh and Maharastra and these workers leave for their home towns during April to June causing labor shortage.
  
  Surat Embroidered Fabrics

The sudden demand for embroidered fabrics from countries all over the world like the United States, Europe, and Middle East etc has contributed to the growth of the textile industry in Surat. Many industries in Surat have imported special ultra modern embroidery machines for their units so that they can create exclusive embroidery designs on the different types of fabrics being manufactured here. Embroidery is being done not only on saris and dress materials but also on curtains, household furnishings and suits. Most of these embroidery works are being done with the aid of computer technology and include the use of zari, sequins, pearls, crystal etc along with cutwork on the various fabrics.

Types of Embroidered textiles manufactured in Surat

The types of embroidered textiles that are being churned out everyday from the various textile industries are enormous. Embroidery is being made on textiles like silk, cotton, crepe, Lycra, satin, georgette, chiffons, denims, and various other materials. Embroidery is being done on printed materials using a variety of other accessories like gold and silver thread, sequins, pearls, colorful beads, shells, stones etc. These embroidered textiles come in an amazing range of colors and exclusive designs with most of the designs being patented. These embroidered textiles are very much in demand not only in India but also all over the world. The different types of embroidered textiles are used for a variety of purposes.

Why more people are taking to embroidery Industry

  Surat, which was once famous for its diamond polishing and cutting units is slowly switching over to the embroidery industry. Embroidery on various fabrics is done using highly specialized imported machines and does not require very skilled labor to operate these machines. The embroidery industry requires the whole unit to be air-conditioned and this provides ideal work conditions for the workers. The pay at these embroidery industries is much higher and most of the laborers work on contracts and it is possible for an experienced worker to earn as high as 25000 Rupees a month. The diamond cutting industry however requires highly skilled labor.

  Challenges in Embroidery industry

The embroidery industry which was growing in leaps and bounds these past few years has found that it is facing recession in recent times. Industry sources say that most of the wage rates have fallen steeply and many machines remain uncommissioned and some of those, which have been running remain idle. But this is only seasonal and the demand for these embroidered textiles normally pick up during the festive seasons.  Changing customer tastes have also changed which has added to the decline for demand of embroidery materials. So the embroidery industry has to put in extra effort to be more creative in using their embroidery designs.

Export potential of Surat Textiles

There is great demand for the various textiles, which are being manufactured in Surat not only in India but also all over the world. Surat is fast gaining recognition as the embroidery capital of the country. The export potential for these embroidered textiles is tremendous and it is in great demand in Middle Eastern countries, Europe, United States and Asian countries like Pakistan. Polyester filament based fabrics are in great demand and exported to many countries from textile industries based in Surat. The Surat based textile industries are able to execute and supply export orders of any quantity to the buyers abroad.