In the past five years, the Indian textile industry especially garment and fabric sections has witnessed that the number of women employees has increased by 15% and double the rate in Gujarat. According to industry experts, women are attracted to textile industry as it provide them with to better work environment, consistent income and other incentives by employers.

According to Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), around 3.5 crore people are working in textile industry in India, of which nearly 2 crore are women. In the last five years, the industry has seen growth of over 15% in women employment. In Tamil Nadu, there are few companies which employ only women, said D K Nair, secretary, CITI.

According to rough estimates, close to 90 lakh people are working in textile industry in Gujarat, including 45 lakh to 50 lakh women. Around 80% of the women are employed in garment sector followed by fabric and other sectors in the industry. Dr Chandan Chatterjee, director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Gujarat said that according to a recent study, some 10,000 women are involved in stitching garments in and around Ahmedabad itself.

Many companies have set up skill development centres wherein women in large numbers are being trained.

Bhavin Parikh, CEO, Globe Textiles said that their new unit set up in Apparel Park in Khokhra, more than 60% of employees are women. Globe Textiles also runs a training centre wherein more than 50% women enroll for skill development. There are several women who are working with them for more than seven years.

Currently, leading textile player Arvind Ltd has 3,753 women on its roll. In the last five years, number of women employees in Arvind Ltd has increased by more than 1,300. Their garment business is driven 100% by women employees. They not only focus on hiring locals but also workers from outside the state at their facilities

Rachna Mehra, HR head, Arvind Ltd said that they are looking to get an all-woman workforce eEven in their new fire retardant garmenting division.

In India, Textile industry is second only to agriculture in providing employment.