There is sufficient evidence to prove that the Aryans living in the Indus Valley knew the use of wool as far back as in 3000 BC. The woollen textile industry was a popular cottage industry in India during the historical times.
Growth and Development:
The first modern woollen textile mill (Lai Imli) was set up at Kanpur (UP) in 1876. It was followed by another woollen mill at Dhariwal (Punjab) in 1881. Subsequently new mills were started in Mumbai and Bangalore in 1886. The industry could not make much progress till the end of the Second World War.
After independence the woollen textile industry made rapid progress. At present, there are more than 600 woollen mills, 1100 hosiery units and 150 yarn spinning units.
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Distribution of Woollen Mills in India:
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The maximum concentration of woollen textile industry is found in Punjab, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. These states account for 75 per cent of the total capacity of India. Other important producing states include Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.
1. Punjab is the largest producer of woollen goods in the country. Dhariwal has’a large number of woollen mills. Other centres are Amritsar, Ludhiana and Kharar. Ludhiana specialises in hosiery and knit wear, while Amritsar produces worsted, tweed and flannels. Punjab has the advantage of a large market, nearness to raw wool, cheap hydroelectricity and hardworking people.
2. Maharashtra is the second largest producer of woollen textiles in India. The industry is based on imported raw wool from Australia, Italy and UK. Most of the mills are centred in Mumbai due to its port facility.
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3. Uttar Pradesh has the first woollen mill at Kanpur, which was set up to meet the needs of the British armed forces. Other centres are at Shahjahanpur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Agra. Mirzapur and Bhadohi are also known for carpet making.
Other important centres are at Panipat, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Bahadurgarh in Haryana; Jamnagar, Vadodara and Ahmadabad in Gujarat; Kolkata and Haora in West Bengal; Gwaiior in Madhya Pradesh; Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir; Bangalore and Bellary in Karnataka.
Exports:
India imports large quantities of fine wool mainly from Australia. But India is an important exporter of woollen goods like fabric, hosiery, knitwear, blankets, shawls, carpets and namdahs. The main buyers of Indian woollen goods are USA, Russia, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Australia.