Tirupur: Knitwear industrialists here are excited about the prospects of earning geographical indication (GI) tag for the products manufactured in the cluster. 

It was a hot topic among the industrialists some years ago and is again creating a buzz, thanks to a senior official from the Office of the Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) under the department of industrial policy and promotion. 

While delivering a lecture at a workshop organised by the NIFT TEA College of Knitwear Fashion at Mudhalipalayam here recently, deputy controller of patents and designs SP Subramanian said that if the industrialists can obtain GI tag for the knitwear products manufactured in Tirupur cluster, it would benefit the industry intellectually and financially. He quoted the example of Kanchipuram silk saris. 

Local industrialists used to discuss extensively about the GI tag seven years ago, said N Jeyasekaran, a seasoned knitwear exporter. “But it did not take off at that time. If the products from the cluster get the tag, it would help the units here to establish a common brand in both exports and domestic businesses. Our units have proven in the international market that the products are of good quality. We have also implemented eco-friendly methods like zero liquid discharge (ZLD) in the dyeing process,” he told TOI. 

They had even coined brand names for the coveted tag, said vice-chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council A Sakthivel. “We had zeroed in on ‘Ind Knit’ and ‘Tirupur Knit’. If a co-operative society is formed and GI tag is obtained, it would definitely work in favour of the units here.” 

GI tag would bring not only laurels to the dollar city but also financial benefit, said chief executive officer of AIC-NIFTTEA Incubation Center S Periasamy. “Generally, the tag is obtained to guard against hijacking of intellectual property of a product. For instance, handloom weavers in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district in Telangana could safeguard Pochampally Saris after it was given GI tag. Similarly, the original producers of Bhavani Jamakkalam, Kovai Kora Cotton, and Coimbatore wet grinder are taking benefit of the tag.” 

Published On : 22-06-2019

Source : The Times of India