A Multidisciplinary Research Journal - Devanga Arts College

S.No Districts
Handlooms
Under Cooperatives Outside Cooperatives Total
1. Salem 1,62,238 55,219 150
2. Virudhunagar 48,822 39,756 181
3. Erode 60,205 3,485 132
4. Madurai 55,522 28,314 137
5. Chenkalput 45,406 26,818 120
6. Trichy 32,185 19,263 91
7. Coimbatore 29,758 18,658 77
8. Vellore 35,419 17,385 93
9. Tirunelveli 35,179 15,772 95
10. Kanyakumari 13,157 11,531 70
11. Cuddalore 18,245 10,849 51
12. Thanjavur 12,110 5,590 32
13. Chennai 4,060 3,050 11
14. Dharmapuri 2,775 2,013 8
15. Pudukkottai 1,229 318 3
Total 5,56,410 2,89,021 1,251
Source: Handbook on Handloom Weavers, Directorate of Handloom & Textiles, Chennai
From the above table it can be seen that Salem district is having more number of looms in
the state of Tamil Nadu, while seeing the number of co-operative societies, virudhunagar district
is having more number of looms in the state of Tamil Nadu. The State average is only 52%
whereas in the virudhunagar district it is 81%. In virudhunagar district, aruppukottai,
virudhunagar, srivilliputur, rajapalayam and sundarapandiam are important handloom centers.
Many weavers' cooperative societies are there in this district.
The products so produced by the weavers' cooperative societies of the district are silk
sarees, art silk sarees, cotton (sungidi) sarees, Rayon sarees, towels, turkey towels, lungies and
export shirting's etc. It is to be noted that Bandage cloth is also product of this area. Lakhs and
lakhs of meters of Bandage cloth are sent to other states from here.