The Surat Art Silk Cloth Manufacturers Association (SASCMA) celebrated its 60 years of establishment. SASCMA was established in 1955 with an objective to represent the cause of the industry before central and state government to jointly carry out the purchases of raw materials for needy members, to educate members about emerging trends in technology in machinery and raw materials and to promote the industry in general.

To mark its 60 years of establishment organized a fashion show to display garments made exclusively out of fabrics manufactured in Surat which included an array of Bamberg, viscose, polyester and nylon filament yarn.

Surat's art silk association is the sole distributor of Bamberg yarn to Ashhi Kashai in Japan from where 13 senior officers specially came to attend the show. Around 180 students study at Surat Technical Education & Research (STER) and are given practical training on several machines. Within a year, hard working students open their own boutiques or join the industry, said Dinesh Zaveri, secretary at STER and Man Made Textiles Research Association (MANTRA).

SASCMA has had long standing associations with MANTRA, STER and Federation of Art Silk Weaving Industries (FIASWI). Surat Art Silk Co-operative Society jointly celebrated the completion of 40 years on the occasion organized by Surat Technical Education & Research (STER).

SASCMA is headed by Arunchandra Jariwala and there are about 1200 members taking benefit of the association and society. It has also set up a "Man Made Weaving Industry Welfare & Relief Trust'' to fulfill its social responsibilities.

The state government is taking various steps to promote garment manufacturing industry and new training institutions in Gujarat to meet the demand for trained manpower for apparel industry and to impart training in different skills of apparel production.

Jariwala said that the institute has created training facilities for apparel production especially in the area of children, ladies and gents garments as an extension to their present activities.

Industry and mines department of government of Gujarat has accorded sanction for the establishment of apparel training centre at the institute and also provided financial assistance for the same.