The Indian Denim Industry

Denim has always been an important aspect of fashion, from workwear to casual wear — denim has changed the way people dress. Employees in the mining business wore the blue and white striped fabric as it is durable and good for rough usage. Denim fabric began to be exported to England for the production of low-cost, durable labor clothing for employees.

The British coined the term “Dungaree,” which is similar to “Dungri.” The term was first used in the seventeenth century to describe inexpensive, coarse, thick cotton cloth. And “Dungree” clothing was utilized by populations working in harsh environments since it did not rip readily. With the introduction of branded industrial sewing machines, the production of denim has also increased with time. 

Denim intro in India

Flying Machine launched the first denim lines in India in 1980 to cater to the growing adolescent market. After recognizing the market potential, Arvind Mills released the primary branded Indian denim in 1995, fifteen years after the release. By that time, major manufacturers such as Lee and Levi’s had begun marketing in India.

For a few years, the Indian denim sector has been prospering in the home market, and the market now covers a sizable global market. After China, India has the world’s second-largest denim market. Despite this, the industry has a number of unexplored opportunities.

Denim is more popular than ever among Indian generations, particularly among Indian adolescents. Denim is more of a fashion statement for the majority of Indian children than merely a casual outfit. The denim market in India is divided into three categories: men’s, women’s, and children’s denim. Men control 85 percent of the denim market, while women account for only ten percent, and children account for only five percent of the whole Indian denim market.

The Indian denim industry has had a high-quality boom over the previous decade. Denim production capacity in the country is currently around 1.1 billion meters per year. By 2020, the global denim market is expected to have grown to USD 64.1 billion. The Indian denim market accounts for 80-85% of total denim production. Despite this remarkable statistic, Indian denim production accounts for barely 5% of the global textile sector.

Growing denim manufacturers around the world are eyeing India as a potential denim export market due to its first-rate standards, cost-effectiveness, the introduction of good industrial sewing machines, and a large pool of skilled labor. Growing disposable incomes, westernization of work culture, and the resulting upward push in the popularity of denim jeans are driving the denim business in India.