Kolhapuris cool off in cotton

The rise in mercury during summer goes hand in hand with an increase in the sale of ice creams, cold juices and cool clothes too. And by ‘cool’, we’re refering to summer-friendly fabrics like cotton and linen, whose sale is steadily escalating. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to tag Kolhapur as the fabric hub of the state. A cotton distributor and manufacturer, Mahendra Pinjumal says, “Linen has always been in the market.But people developed a craze for it only after its use by politicians and Bollywood actors. We have been selling pure linen and cotton since 1962, and it’s only now that I have seen the common man taking to khadi and linen with so much zeal.”
On the varieties of linen available here, Mahendra says they differ depending upon the thickness and thread used, also called lea. So while a 40 lea fabric costs about `400 per metre, 60 lea ranges between `750 and `800, and so on. One hundred lea, which is the most expensive, costs between `2,000-`2,500 per metre. “It’s the 40 and 60 lea which is usually preferred. About five per cent of the total population in Kolhapur uses pure linen and cotton, which I must agree is certainly a very satisfying response for us,” he shares. Udayraj Newalkar, from one of the oldest cotton stores in the city says, “Most of the crowd has a very cliched idea of cotton as a fabric. It’s just a handful who actually know about the purest cotton and linen. People buy the fabric not because they understand the quality, but because they trust a shop. One would only buy from a shop they trust and would be reluctant to try a new vendor, especially those who use cotton everyday.”
Besides pure cotton, other versions of the fabric have also picked up in sale, we’re told. “Polyester cotton, silk cotton, linen and cotton mixed together are a few other forms of the material, with polyester cotton being the most in demand,” says Rajan Shrirang Newalkar, who has been in the polyester business over three decades now. “The primary reason why people prefer polyester over pure cotton is because it’s comparatively economical at `300-`350 per metre. But people who can’t compromise in comfort, or are allergic to other materials, always prefer pure cotton,” he insists.
Given the age of our market and the quality of fabric produced here, a lot of companies make their shirts in the city and export them across the country and to the western end of the globe.
Samir Mujawar, from a manufacturing plant in the city, says that they have 750 employees in the plant at MIDC and the company exports shirts to all corners of India and European countries. “The Turkish company has established a plant in Kolhapur and seen a very good employee retention rate since its inception.
The workers here are very happy with the wages,” he says. His company sources yarn from Egypt, China and Tamil Nadu. On looking for people who prefer cotton and linen during summer, Kolhapur Times came across several youngsters sporting the fabric. Abhishek Ghotane, 24, who was spotted in his cotton kurta pyjama, says, “Linen and khadi top my priority list. These garments ensure both comfort and style and are also available in earthy colours that I love. This indo-western look is something which I can sport not only to work but also to hangout with friends or during family functions.” Sanjana Dharampal Kalani, a fan of cotton sarees, says, “Despite the innumerable designer sarees in the market, even today I prefer cotton sarees from the south. The admiration from my friends and family is amazing.” Home maker Kashish Dembani says, “Cotton is something we don’t need a season for. It comforts you in all times and seasons.” And we can’t help but agree.