The South Indian Textile Research Association (SITRA) will soon set up a laboratory in Coimbatore to test the fabrics used to make garments for sports and athletics (sportswear and sports).
The Tamil Nadu government recently announced in its interim budget for 2026-27 that it would give SITRA ₹6 crore to set up the laboratory.
Prakash Vasudevan, director of SITRA, told The Hindu on Friday that a 2,000 square feet laboratory with imported machinery would soon be set up to test the fabrics that are used to make sportswear and sportswear. The association has developed the required infrastructure at a cost of around ₹30,000,000 and is likely to spend another ₹30,00,000, in addition to funds from the Tamil Nadu government, to purchase the necessary equipment.
Fewer than half a dozen companies make these garments in India, and there is only one lab in Mumbai that tests the fabrics. Most manufacturers currently import fabrics for the production of sportswear or sportswear. These fabrics need to be regularly tested for various parameters – stretchability, ability to absorb moisture, softness and so on. These garments are highly constructed from yarn to finish and are in high demand in India as well as abroad. When a company imports fabric samples, they need to be tested to see if the fabric will meet the garment’s specifications. The establishment of a laboratory for this purpose will encourage more companies to purchase garments used for sports and athletics, which have a high added value. “The laboratory can be commissioned within three months of receiving the funds,” he said.
SITRA has also submitted a proposal to the National Technical Textile Mission to set up a ₹20 crore facility here to develop the fiber to produce yarn for these garments. If this project is approved, it will be a big boost for sportswear manufacturing in India, he added.
Published – 20 Feb 2026 21:16 IST