Sale of cotton garments picks up in Erode

Textile markets in the city see increased sales of cotton garments as temperatures rise, attracting buyers from various regions.

With mercury levels soaring above 35 degrees Celsius and intense heat prevailing across the State and nearby regions, the sale of cotton garments at the textile markets in the city has picked up.

Over 3,200 textile shops operate in various locations across the city, including the E.K.M. Abdul Gani Textile Market (Gani Market) at Panneerselvam Park. These shops function in two categories - daily shops and weekly shops, which operate from Monday afternoon to Tuesday evening. Both retail and wholesale business transactions take place during these periods.

On Tuesday, traders from various districts and neighbouring states made bulk purchases for the summer season. A member of the Erode Gani Market Weekly All Textile Merchants’ Association said traders have been arriving from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Telangana to place orders for cotton garments. “Since temperatures continue to rise, the demand for cotton garments is high,” said the trader, noting that transactions were 15% to 20% higher this season.

Traders reported a surge in demand for cotton sarees, dhotis and cotton salwars, as people preferred comfortable garments for the summer. “Last week, sales for Ramzan were good. Now, sales for summer have picked up,” noted a trader at Gani Market. However, many traders expressed concern over the rising cotton prices, fearing that it could affect their business. “Most of these cotton garments are used for less than four months. If we increase prices, sales could drop,” he said.