The Gram Panchayat of the Kozhikode District of Kerala, Kudumbasree, has launched a very innovative plan of boosting the textile sector in the district.This novel idea is Vastramandala. It is a syndicate of two apparel manufacturing units and one mother satellite unit in the constituency under Kudumbasree.

The units have been named Calico Designs and Calico Fashions. The purpose of the conglomerate is to market the products of these apparel units under one brand, across the State. The products mainly include children’s apparel and other readymade clothes. The products will undergo strict quality check so as to compete with the top brands in the field.

The project, formed by the State government, is to be implemented in select Assembly constituencies in the State after it is experimented in Kozhikode South.

The Mission plans to purchase the clothes wholesale and implement a centralised storage facility in order to make the clothes available to the units at nominal rates. The Mission has plans to open similar units in the municipalities also.

Kudumbasree members who have experience in stitching, as well as their family members are part of the consortium. They have undergone training in apparel designing at the National Institute of Fashion Technology. Kudumbasree District Mission will provide them further training and acquaint them with modern technologies in the field. The products will be marketed under the Kudumbasree brand.

Minister for Social Justice and Panchayats M. K. Muneer inaugurated Vastramandala, in Kozhikode on Saturday. The Minister said that the pilot project being implemented in Kozhikode South constituency will revive Kozhikode’s heritage as a textile hub.