Ludhiana’s renowned hosiery hub in Punjab is facing significant losses due to lower demand for winter garments caused by the delayed winter season. Retailers are grappling with excess winter wear stock, making it challenging for hosiery businesses to secure repeat orders.

To attract customers and clear surplus stock, the hosiery industry has resorted to offering early December discounts, a departure from the usual practice of major discounts starting in late December or early January.

The months of October, November, and December are crucial for Ludhiana’s hosiery sector, one of the country’s oldest clusters. The primary markets for these garments include Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, and some northeastern states.

This industry is renowned for producing winter essentials such as jackets, sweaters, thermals, cardigans, pullovers, innerwear, shawls, and more.

Sham Bansal from the prominent women’s wear brand, Rage, said, “Because of the delayed winter, the hosiery sector in Ludhiana is facing a tough time.”

The peak sales season for winter wear usually occurs in October, November, and December. However, wholesalers and retailers exhibited minimal demand this season, placing orders only once and refraining from repeat orders due to sluggish sales at retail outlets.

Some manufacturers are now resorting to offering discounts ranging from 10 per cent to 20 per cent on winter wear as they fear the non-clearance of existing stocks.

Manufacturers have reported that when they contact wholesalers and retailers in Punjab and other states for payments, customers cite poor sales and provide videos showcasing shops filled with unsold stock.

While minimum temperatures have dropped in several northern regions recently, the hosiery industry remains hopeful that the demand for winter wear will eventually pick up, aiding in the clearance of excess stock.