Mumbai is famous for its cotton textile industries.

Mumbai once had almost

130 textile mills, with the majority being cotton mills. The cotton textile mills
contributed significantly to the prosperity and growth and for the
transformation of Mumbai into a major industrial metropolis during the late
nineteenth century. The textile industry boom 1854 made Mumbai a major
industrial hub in the country. During the late 19th century the industry grew
significantly thus contributing to Mumbai’s prosperity. Girangaon in Central
Mumbai is the place where it had 130 textile mills and contributed to the
growth of textile and cotton industry. It covered an area of almost 600 acres.

AREA

Mumbai is leading the centre of the cotton industry in India. Factors

responsible for the growth of cotton textile industries in Mumbai are as
follows:

1. Raw materials: The nearby lava region forming the hinterland of the Mumbai
port produces raw cotton.

2. Port Facilities: Mumbai port has excellent harbour facilities for importing
long staple cotton and machinery to meet the requirements of the mill.

3. Humid Climate: has humid climate essential for spinning and weaving.

4. Water: Abundant supplies of soft water are available for dyeing and
bleaching.

5. Labour: There are supplies of skilled and skilled workers in large number.

8. Market: There are good markets both home and foreign for the yarn and
fabrics.

9. Transport: Both Rail and road transport system are well developed.

PROCESS OF MAKING CLOTH

Textile manufacturing is a major industry. It is based on the conversion
of fibre into yarn, yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated
 into clothes. Different types of fibres are used to produce yarn. Cotton remains
the most important natural fibre, so is treated in depth. There are many
variable processes available at the spinning and fabric-forming stages coupled
with the complexities of the finishing and colouration processes to the
production of a wide range of products. There are six stages:
 Cultivating and Harvesting
 Preparatory Processes
 Spinning
 Weaving or Knitting
 Finishing
 Marketing
SPINNING-YARN MANUFACTURE---Most spinning today is done using Break or
Open-end spinning; this is a technique where the staples are blown by air into
a rotating drum, where they attach themselves to the tail of formed yarn that
is continually being drawn out of the chamber. Other methods of break
spinning use needles and electrostatic forces. This method has replaced the
older methods of ring and mule spinning. It is also easily adapted for fibres.
The spinning machines take the roving thins it and twists it, creating yarn
which it winds onto a bobbin.

WEAVING-FABRIC MANUFACTURE---The weaving process uses a loom. The

lengthways threads are known as the warp, and the cross way threads are
known as the weft. The warp, which must be strong, needs to be presented to
loom on a warp beam. The weft passes across the loom in a shuttle that carries
the yarn on a prim. These pirns are automatically changed by the loom. Thus,
the yarn needs to be wrapped onto a beam and onto pirns before weaving can
commence.

FINISHING-PROCESSING OF TEXTILES--- The woven cotton fabric in its loom-

state not only contains impurities, including warp size, but requires further
treatment in order to develop its full textile potential. Furthermore, it may
receive considerable added value by applying one or more finishing processes.

MAIN PRODUCION UNITS

1. Raymond Ltd is largest integrated manufacturer of fabric in the world
based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has over 60% market share in suiting
in India.
 2. Bombay Dyeing & Mfg Company Limited (Bombay Dyeing) is one of
India's largest producers of textiles.
1. Mandhana Industries Limited is an Indian diversified textile and apparel
manufacturing company, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

TEXTILE MILL IN MUMBAI

A boom in the textile industry followed, with 10 cotton mills set up in Mumbai
by 1865, employing over 6,500 workers. A gradual increase led to a total of 136
mills being set up by 1900. The textile industry was offered added government
incentives in the form of long term leases (some as mills stimulated the
economic growth and employment).

MARKET

Mumbai is the collecting centre of raw cotton for export and mills use. For that
purpose, Mumbai possesses a well-knit transport system by rail and road.
Mumbai port has excellent harbour facilities for importing long staple cotton
and machinery to meet the requirements of the mill. There are good markets
both home and foreign for the yarn and fabrics. Both Rail and road transport
system are well developed.