Tamil Nadu

Technology to make knitted garments from eri silk

TIRUPUR: Researchers of the NIFT-TEA College of Knitwear Fashion, an institute promoted by the Tirupur Exporters Association, have developed a technology to produce knitted garments from ‘eri silk spun yarn.’

Eri silk, a ‘vanya’ or wild silk reared by tribal communities, is previously used for making only woven garments.

The team, led by K.V. Kumar, head (apparel fashion design), has developed the technology, tapping the funds sanctioned by the Central Silk Board under a product development project.

“Our aim has been to tap the enormous tensile properties of eri silk and develop knitwear products out of it to help the exporters of Tirupur fetch higher unit value realization for their products,” Mr. Kumar told The Hindu.

“Commercial production of knitwear garments from eri silk will help to uplift the tribal people, the main cultivators of eri silk,” he said. The knitted products developed from eri silk, Mr. Kumar said, “are user-friendly, all-season clothes.”

The good ‘moisture management’ properties possessed by eri silk make the garments an ideal choice for summer, while its excellent thermal traits help the customer use the products during winter. Furthermore, the clothing will have medicinal value, since eri silk is a natural protein fibre.

The product will be launched shortly in Tirupur.

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