First Cotton Mill in India

-by Abhrajita Mondal

–Reading Time – 7 min Approx

The first cotton mill in India was established in the year 1818 at Fort Gloster near Kolkata. However, it was not successful. Then Shri KGN Daber established the second mill. The name of the mill is Bombay Spinning and Weaving Company. Therefore, it is considered the first cotton mill that was successfully established. It was in Mumbai. The year of establishment was 1854. Moreover, the mill started in 1856. British engineers and skilled cotton operations executives established the place. It marked the true beginning of the textile industry in India. It is also the first cotton mill in Bombay. The owner is a Parsi cotton businessman.

So, now you know about the first cotton mill in India. You should also know about some of the facts related to the textile industry in India. It has shaped Indian culture for many years. The history of Indian textiles goes back to the times of the Balkans and Europeans. Cotton was discovered in Mohenjo-Daro as well. Cotton fabrics were also used in the Harappan age. In the past, cotton and silk were found in stitched as well as unstitched forms. You will be amazed to know that the textile industry is a large employment generator after agriculture. It is a huge employer for both skilled and unskilled labor.

Moreover, India is the second largest producer of cotton. The other fibers that are produced include silk, jute and wool. Initially, the cotton growing regions were Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat. India is also the largest producer of raw jute. West Bengal had a huge number of jute mills about a decade back. However, the fiber faced tough competition from other synthetic fibers.

In the year 2000, the Government of India passed the National Textile Policy. Currently, natural fibers are being given a lot of importance. You will find cotton being used often in various fabrics and collections today.

Bombay Spinning and Weaving Company – First Cotton Mill in India:

Parsi businessman and banker Cowasjee Nanabhoy Davar established the steam-powered, first cotton mill in India in Tardeo. The success of the mill led to proliferation of the trade. He started the company with a capital of just 5 lacs. He had set the stage for industrialization. Seeing him, the Tatas and the other eminent business tycoons started investing in industries. After the supplies of cotton from the USA was interrupted, cotton exports in the country grew. By the end of 1895, there were 70 mills. In 1915, the number of mills rose to 83.  Thus, the first textile mill in India paved the way for many others.

Location of Cotton Textile Industry in India:

The cotton textile centers in India are in the four regions namely Eastern, Western, Southern and Northern. When we think about Cotton Mills, Maharashtra comes to mind first. It is there, that all the action started. Maharashtra is the leading producer of cotton. Some people even call the place ‘Cottonpolis of India’. The other regions apart from Mumbai that produce cotton textile are Sholapur, Kolhapur, Pune, Jalgaon and Nagpur.

Gujarat is the second largest producer of cotton textiles in India. It is in Ahmedabad, where all the action takes place. Many people call it the ‘Manchester of India & Boston of East’. The other important cities where cotton mills are present are Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Nadiad and Porbandar. If you go south, Tamil Nadu seems to be on top. Chennai, Madurai and Salem seem to be the places where all the cotton industry seems to rule. Coimbatore is also on the list. You will find it being referred to as ‘Manchester of South India’.

Karnataka is also on the list, down south. Belgaum, Bengaluru and Mysore are the major cotton textile producers. You will find Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as some of the prominent producers of the textile. West Bengal is also quite famous. So, there are many states that produce cotton textiles.

List of Cotton Textile Industry in India:

So, you have a fair idea of the first cotton mill or the textile mill in India along with the relevant states. The Indian Textile Industry has concentrated on cotton. It is in demand here. Moreover, exports have also increased substantially. The climatic conditions in India are also favorable for cotton agriculture. You should know more about the thriving cotton industry. The List of cotton textile industry in India is as follows:

• Arvind Mills is one of the largest cotton textile companies in India today. Based in Gujarat, Ahmedabad. Arvind Mills is the largest one that we are talking about here in India. The company owns 22 global patents as well. That seems to be an amazing figure. It is also the producer of the largest fire protection fabric in India. The firm manages around 15 global apparel brands as well. You must have heard about Tommy Hilfiger, GAP and US Polo. It has also started the online shop: NNOW.com.
• Vardhman Textiles comes next. The firm has over five decades of experience in this field. Vardhman Textiles produces yarns, fabrics, acrylic fiber and garments. It also produces sewing threads. It is a huge business conglomerate with presence in 75 countries across the world.
• Welspun India is also quite famous. It is in fact, the third-largest textile company in India. It is a part of the global $2.7 billion Welspun Group. The company is well equipped to manufacture high quality products that have a global appeal. The company Welspun maintains a high degree of standard.
• Raymond Ltd as a company, does not need an introduction. The company has major stakes in textiles and apparels. The companies also have presence across diverse segments such as FMCG and Engineering as well. Raymond produces the finest fabrics in the world. You will be amazed to know that the firm has over 1100 stores in the country. All menswear and men’s trouser materials are synonymous with Raymond. It is also regarded as a highly acclaimed denim brand.
• Trident Limited is also quite popular. It is a $ 1 billion Indian conglomerate and global player. The headquarters are at Ludhiana. The company is engaged in manufacturing a wide variety of linen, beddings, bath towels and chemicals as well.
• Bombay Dyeing is another top textile company, the entire world knows of. It was established in 1879. It comes under the Wadia Group. The company manufactures linen, towels, home furnishings and leisure clothing as well. The company is famous for having the best finishing ever. It also manufactures fine quality textiles and exports them globally.
• Sutlej Industries is also one of the front runners in the company, when it comes to textiles. The company has mills, that manufacture yarns. It is also the largest integrated textile manufacturing company. Spun-dyed yarns and cotton blends are some of the most popular yarns.
• Grasim Industries Ltd is also quite popular today. It is one of the largest textile manufacturing countries in India. It was established in 1948. You must have heard of Viscose Staple Fiber. The company has a market share of 21 percent.
• Reliance Textiles is also doing quite great. The company was started by Dhirubhai Ambani along with a partner, sometime in the 60s. The corporate office is in Gujarat.
• FabIndia Pvt. Ltd is headquartered in New Delhi and is concentrated mainly on the craft traditions of India. Initially, it started operation with home furnishings. The company has a huge role in the preservation of artisanal crafts. It also employs the rural people, thus creating employment.

Challenges Faced by the Cotton Textile Industry:

Today, the cotton textile industry faces a lot of challenges in India. There is scarcity of raw cotton. Most of the cotton growing areas after partition went to Pakistan. Although, the government has taken various steps to increase production, it is still short. The machinery is obsolete. Most cotton mills are very old. Thus, it delays the process of production. Only a few looms in India are automated. Moreover, the power supply is not uniformly met. Thus, leading to further delays in the process.

India is a country, where politics of all kinds play a huge role. Unions strike often and delay the production of cotton textiles. The Indian Cotton industry is facing stiff competition from power loom industries and synthetic fibers. This further adds to the dismay. Thus, imports are resorted to. Decentralization is another problem that has impacted cotton fiber production in India. The government is doing all it can, by giving concessions to the Cotton mills. The mills owners also get several privileges. There is a lack of foreign investment due to the above issue.

In the current decade, many reforms have taken place here. The mills are also specializing in spinning and weaving. Now, mills and handloom industry are interdependent on one another. There are several advantages of cotton mills set up in India. The wage rate is lower than that of other countries. Moreover, design sensibilities are profound here. There are large players in the industry, who have qualified themselves in the global markets. You can see the top ten companies faring quite well financially. Thus, the industry is fighting back.

-by Abhrajita Mondal

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