Woolmark sees huge potential for wool in India

The Woolmark Company, a global authority on merino wool, is exploring the Indian market for wool by tapping the great potential in sportswear and yoga sector, according to a top official of the company.

India imported a measly seven to eight per cent of Australian wool compared to China’s import of nearly 75 to 80 per cent, even as the use of wool in textile sector was just two per cent globally, Woolmark Company Country Manager (India), Arti Gudal told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop in Tirupur, India’s garment export hub.

She said wool has trans-seasonal benefits and can be used in any climate, be it summer or winter, depending on the right blend as she sought to dispel notions that the fabric is unusable for large part of the year because of India’s tropical climate.

Gudal said that there was tremendous potential for wool in India, particularly in sports wear in cricket and yoga.

A section of 150 knitwear manufacturers, who attended the workshop in Tirupur, said they were willing to explore the possibility of enlarging their market with the use of woolen yarn and wool blended fabric in the manufacturing process.

The foray into wool-based products though may take some time. Te first product from Tirupur is likely to be introduced in November, Gudal said. It doesn’t come cheap either, with a sticker price of about Rs 300 more per kg, which is mainly used by knitwear manufacturers.