Pets in US to don garments made in Tirupur

TIRUPUR: The next time you see a Golden Retriever strolling the streets of an American city attired in a fancy hooded vest, chances are that the garment has a ‘Made in Tirupur’ tag.
After years of exporting garments across the globe for men, women and children, the hosiery hub has finally found a place on the global pet clothing manufacturing map.

A US-based firm has placed an order to manufacture 50,000 pieces of knitwear garments for pet dogs in a unit located on Palladam Road in Tirupur three months ago and the unit is busy stitching the brightly coloured vests. A couple of other firms have also received orders for pet clothes over the past few months, though for a smaller quantity.
“We were approached a few months ago with specifications. We sent samples and the buyer was immediately convinced,” said the garment unit owner, not willing to identify himself. The first consignment will be shipped to the US in three months.
Tirupur has been making pet garments for some time now, but on a minuscule scale catering to the negligible domestic market in metros. This is the first time that global orders have started coming.
“Western buyers had been sourcing pet garments from China. But with the US economic sanctions on China, American buyers have turned their eyes towards India,” said Kumar Duraisamy, executive member of Tirupur exporters’ association. China is still the market leader in pet clothing manufacturing, but Tirupur industrialists hope that the US sanctions would help India tap the market.
For now, the orders are for basic t-shirt-like garments with hoods and collars in colourful patterns. “The garment would be a little thicker than those made for humans. But cutting, stitching and other processes are similar. We have imported the buttons and a few other accessories to meet the quality standards,” said another manufacturer.
Globally, the pet clothing market is one of the fastest growing. While pampering is the key factor that drives pet clothing, changing weather patterns, needs and safety of pets also contribute to the growing market, say industrialists.