Hope lies in tatters in Tiruppur as cotton and yarn prices go up

Despite the pandemic, the hub posted exports of Rs 33,525 crore in 2021-2022, contributing to around 1 per cent of the country's exports revenue

On the streets of Tiruppur, the air is full of the odour of chemicals and dyes used in fabrics. At least one person in almost every family is connected with the textile and garment industry that makes the hosiery, knitwear, casual wear and sportswear sold all over the country.

These days, the acrid odour is still around but the town, in Tamil Nadu, has lost its mojo. The prices of cotton and yarn have gone up, forcing factories to work at reduced capacity while wholesale shops look deserted with hardly any takers for clothes.

“Tiruppur was never like this. These streets were