Towels (cotton terry)

HS code & export scale (2023)

• HS 6302.60 “toilet/kitchen linen of terry toweling (cotton)”. India exported US$1.07 billion; key buyers: USA ~65%, UK ~8%, UAE ~4%.
  

What “quality” means (buyer specs & tests)

• Absorbency & handle: AATCC 79 (water absorbency) and BIS IS 14579:1998 (absorbancy of terry towels).
  
• Dimensional stability: AATCC 135 / ISO 6330 (after-wash shrinkage).
  
• Colorfastness: ISO 105-C06 (domestic laundering).
  
• Chemicals/safety: OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 (tests for >1,000 harmful substances) is widely specified for export orders.
  
• Azo dyes (EU): REACH Annex XVII Entry 43—22 aromatic amines ≤30 mg/kg (ban).
  
• Typical GSM bands buyers request for hotel/spa towels: 500–700 GSM for bath towels (heavier = more absorbent).
  

India/regional strengths

• Solapur, Maharashtra: GI-tagged “Solapur Terry Towels” (2005) with century-old craft base—useful when you want heritage-led ranges.
  
• Panipat, Haryana: large home-textile cluster with terry towels a stated growth category; deep ecosystem for quick turns and value lines.
  
• Compliance capacity: TEXPROCIL/industry push on certified “made-ups”; many Indian mills hold OEKO-TEX labels and run integrated spinning-to-finishing (helps cost & lead time).
  

Robes (terry & knit)

HS codes & export scale (2023)

• Knit robes (men/boys, cotton) HS 6107.91: India exported US$37.3 million. Top buyers include UK, Israel, GCC & Africa.
  
• Woven robes (women/girls, cotton) HS 6208.91: India exported US$20.2 million.
  (Robes are traded under 6107/6108 for knit and 6207/6208 for woven/terry.)
  

What “quality” means (buyer specs & tests)

• Fabric weight: hotel/spa robes typically 400–500 GSM terry (absorbent yet not too heavy).
  
• Safety/compliance: U.S. 16 CFR 1610 flammability for clothing textiles (Class 1 required). For kids’ robes in EU/UK: EN 14682 (no hazardous cords/drawstrings).
  
• Colorfastness/shrinkage/chemicals: same towel tests above + OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 / MADE IN GREEN (traceable, safer supply chains).
  

India/regional strengths

• Tiruppur (TN) & Ludhiana (Punjab): knitwear hubs capable of knit robes with large SME base and export infrastructure.
  
• Panipat/Solapur: terry weaving base supports terry shawl-collar robes alongside towels for cohesive spa sets.
  

Copper Water Jugs (hand-hammered, lined or lacquered)

HS code & export scale (2023)

• HS 7418 “table, kitchen or other household articles of copper”: India exported US$54 million; product mix is mainly sanitary ware & parts (≈69%), with the balance—including jugs/serveware—going largely to the USA (~23%) and UAE (~18%).
  

What “quality” means (buyer specs & tests)

• Food-contact safety (USA): FDA Food Code 2022 §4-101.14 prohibits copper/uncertain copper alloys with acidic foods/beverages (pH < 6)—so either specify tin-lined interiors or “water-only” use.
  
• Food-contact safety (EU): Council of Europe/EDQM Technical Guide for Metals & Alloys in Contact with Food provides specific release limits (SRLs) for metals—used by EU authorities and many buyers as a benchmark.
  
• Indian testing capacity: Metal Handicrafts Service Centre (MHSC), Moradabad—Government-backed, NABL/CPSC-accepted lab—offers lead/cadmium leaching and coating (lacquer) performance tests for export lots.
  

India/regional strengths

• Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh (“Peetal Nagri”): India’s largest metal-handicraft export hub with MHSC support for plating, finishing & compliance testing—ideal for volume giftware/HORECA lines.
  
• Thatheras of Jandiala Guru (Punjab): UNESCO-listed craft community producing hand-hammered copper/brass vessels with distinctive forms and patinas—strong story value for premium handcrafted SKUs.
  

Quick sourcing takeaways

• Towels: Anchor on 500–700 GSM, ISO/AATCC wash & colorfastness, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100. For heritage collections, request Solapur GI provenance.
  
• Robes: Match market (knit vs terry), keep 400–500 GSM for spa comfort, ensure 16 CFR 1610 compliance for the U.S.; use EN 14682 for any kids/teen robe programs.
  

Copper jugs: Specify tin-lining or “water-only” labeling; send lots for leachate & lacquer testing (MHSC Moradabad). Align to EDQM guidance for EU buyers.