Snapshot

• Why Ludhiana is iconic: Often called the “Manchester of India” for woollens, Ludhiana is India’s largest hub for woollen knitwear, sweaters, thermals, and hosiery. It accounts for 80% of India’s woollens production and is a key supplier of winter apparel to domestic and global markets.
  
• Industrial overlap: Alongside textiles, Ludhiana is also a cycle manufacturing hub (ACMA/auto components), creating a diversified industrial ecosystem.
  
• Global positioning: Supported by AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council), Ludhiana supplies knitwear to Europe, Russia, Middle East, and North America, offering both high-volume and premium fashion production.
  

Product Range

Category	Key Products
Woollen Knitwear	Sweaters, cardigans, pullovers, coats, jackets.
Thermals & Winterwear	Thermal tops and bottoms, heavy woollen knits.
Cotton Knitwear	T-shirts, polos, sportswear, kidswear.
Hosiery Products	Socks, undergarments, innerwear.
School & Institutional Uniforms	Custom winter uniforms, scarves, gloves.
Private Label Fashion	Designer apparel, boutique knitwear collections.

Cluster Strengths

Feature	Details
Largest Woollen Hub	Produces 80% of India’s woollens and significant cotton hosiery output.
Integrated Value Chain	Spinning, knitting, dyeing, finishing, embroidery, and packaging within one cluster.
Machine Infrastructure	20,000+ knitting machines, 12,000+ hosiery units, 200+ dyeing/processing units.
Design Versatility	Strong trend adaptation for fast fashion, athleisure, and winterwear.
Export Footprint	Key global buyers include Walmart, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Zara, and Decathlon.

Materials & Sustainability

• Fibers Used: Wool, acrylic, cotton, blends, viscose, polyester, recycled fibers.
  
• Innovation:
  
  • Increasing use of recycled wool, organic cotton, and technical blends.
    
  • Digital jacquard knitting, seamless knitting technology.
    
• Eco Initiatives:
  
  • Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) dyeing units in major processing parks.
    
  • OEKO-TEX®, GRS-certified factories for sustainable sourcing.
    
• Social Impact: Employs 500,000+ workers in Ludhiana’s hosiery and apparel sector, including a strong SME base.
  

Cluster Infrastructure

• Geographical Hub: Ludhiana city and satellite towns (Kohara, Bhamian, etc.).
  
• Trade & Promotion Bodies:
  
  • AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council): Export facilitation and compliance training.
    
  • ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association): Highlights Ludhiana’s engineering synergy.
    
  • Ludhiana Knitwear Club & Hosiery Manufacturers Association: Cluster-specific initiatives.
    
• Industrial Parks:
  
  • Textile Parks: Knitwear Fashion Hub, Industrial Hosiery Parks.
    
  • Engineering Linkage: Shared infrastructure with cycle and auto parts industry.
    
• Export Gateways: ICD Ludhiana, road connectivity to Delhi, ports at Nhava Sheva and Mundra.
  

Compliance & Certifications

• Key Certifications: GOTS, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, GRS (Global Recycled Standard), ISO 9001:2015.
  
• Social Standards: SA8000, Sedex, BSCI for ethical compliance.
  
• Government Support: TUFS (Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme), PM MITRA parks planned for Punjab.
  
• Fair Trade Initiatives: Increasing adoption of traceable and ethical supply chains.
  

Production Timelines & MOQs

Product Type	Sampling Lead Time	Bulk Lead Time	MOQ Guidance
Sweaters & Cardigans	10–14 days	6–8 weeks	500–1,000 pcs/style
Thermals & Winterwear	10–14 days	6–8 weeks	500–1,000 pcs/style
Hosiery & Innerwear	7–10 days	4–6 weeks	1,000–5,000 pcs/style
Athleisure & Sportswear	10–14 days	6–8 weeks	500–1,000 pcs/style

Branding & Packaging

• Branding:
  
  • Private-label manufacturing, QR-code labels, sustainability tags.
    
  • Specialized packaging for premium fashion buyers.
    
• Packaging:
  
  • Polybags, biodegradable bags, retail-ready cartons.
    
  • Export packaging designed to maintain shape of sweaters and knits.
    
• Marketing Narrative: Positioned as “Ludhiana: India’s Knitwear Powerhouse with Global Engineering Synergy.”
  

Quality Control (IndiaUnbox Protocol)

• Yarn QC: Fiber composition, yarn evenness, strength.
  
• Garment QC: Stitching, knitting density, shrinkage control, color fastness.
  
• Fit & Finish Testing: Size standardization, seam strength.
  
• Export QC: ISTA-compliant packaging testing for long-distance shipping.
  

Price Drivers

• Fiber choice (wool, blends, recycled yarn).
  
• Garment complexity (jacquard knitting, embroidery).
  
• Eco certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX®, Fairtrade).
  
• Brand customization (private-label services).
  

Buyer Confidence Signals

• Industrial Ecosystem: Unique textile + engineering overlap ensures robust machinery availability and rapid scalability.
  
• Global Brand Linkages: Supplies to premium fashion retailers and global supply chains.
  
• Cluster Expertise: Decades of experience in knitwear and hosiery manufacturing.
  
• Sustainability Leadership: Certified units, circular textile practices, and ZLD dyeing facilities.