As the Tamil Nadu elections heat up, a significant focus of political parties in the state is the Tamil Nadu Garment and Textile Industry. As a large voter block that can impact these elections, the industry has been getting assurances from major political parties of assistance and commitment to its growth and the welfare of its workers.
As such, political party members in the state recently met with leaders from the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA) and sought their support. However, there are no specific measures that these political parties have promised, rather, they have all expressed a commitment to help the industry grow.
In an exclusive conversation with Apparel Resources, KM Subramanian, President of the TEA and the Founder-Chairman of Tirupur-based clothing manufacturer K M Knitwear Pvt Ltd, said that there has been a demand from the various textile and apparel associations of the region that a Knitwear Board be established by the Government, that will have members from the major associations present as Board Members. This, he added, will help the disparate associations come together in a single place to have meaningful discussions.
Secondly, he also mentioned that Tirupur needs a world-class Convention Centre to be established in the region. This will help the apparel manufacturers in Tirupur to better interact with buyers visiting the area. He mentioned that the convention centre should be up to international standards so that buyers can be better served.
Tamil Nadu has several hubs of the garment and textile industry, including Tirupur, Coimbatore, Salem, Dindigul, Karur and Erode, with exports reaching nearly US $8 billion in FY 2024–25. Currently about a million people are employed in the industry and Tirupur export garments are currently valued at Rs. 15,000 crore (US $1.62 billion).
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
