Cotton is an important cash crop and is grown commercially in several agricultural zones of Karnataka depending on climate, irrigation and rainfall.
The cotton textile industry was one of the earliest modern industries. An agro-based industry, handloom weaving has been practised in Karnataka since ancient times. Even now, it is customary to weave clothes with handlooms. Despite the competition from foreign cotton fabric, there is still a high demand for cotton fabric in the State.
Every part of the cotton plant is used to make fabric. They are used to make textile products like clothes and home textiles. Bandage cotton is used in hospitals, a surgical cotton cloth used for bandaging, they are used in sanitary napkins used by women and so on.
‘Davangere’ is the major cotton industrial centre of the State. It is known as the ‘Manchester of Karnataka’.
There are cotton weaving mills in some important places like Hubballi, Ilakal, Guledagudda, Rabakavi, Bagalakote, Gadag-Betageri, Badami, Belagavi, Naragunda, Gokaka, Ballari, Hunsur, Nanjangudu, Piroyapatna and Chamarajanagari.
Cotton is one of the best fabric materials used for women’s clothing. It is a breathable fabric perfect for summer wear. That’s why the cotton fabric is highly recommended for making fashionable women’s clothing, which is easy to maintain and comfortable to wear.