Textiles & apparel · Knitwear & hosiery
Tiruppur cotton and Ludhiana winter knits, bought on GSM and spirality.
A t-shirt enquiry is really a fabric enquiry. Yarn count, combed or carded, GSM, single jersey or interlock, bio-wash and silicone finish decide whether the garment survives twenty washes. We buy from audited Tiruppur and Ludhiana units against measured knit data, test shrinkage and spirality before bulk, and print or embroider in-house at the unit.
T-shirts · polos · fleece · activewear · sweaters · socks
Ranges
Tiruppur · Ludhiana · Kolkata
Clusters
140–220 GSM jersey · 280–380 GSM fleece
Fabric
500–1,000 pcs per style per colour
MOQ
Overview
Two clusters, two seasons, one specification discipline
Tiruppur is India's cotton knitwear capital and handles summer weights, jersey, pique and fleece at scale. Ludhiana handles winter knitwear, sweaters, thermals and hosiery. We buy each where it is genuinely made and hold both to the same technical file.
Knit quality is decided before the garment exists. A 180 GSM single jersey in 30s combed compact yarn and a 180 GSM jersey in 30s carded open-end yarn cost meaningfully different money and behave completely differently after washing — pilling, surface hairiness and shrinkage all diverge. We state yarn count, spinning system, gauge, loop length, GSM and finish route on the offer.
Spirality is the defect that catches most first-time knitwear buyers. A single jersey tube knitted with unbalanced twist turns in the wash and the side seam walks round the body, which no amount of good stitching prevents. We hold spirality to 5% maximum, test dimensional stability after three ISO 6330 cycles, and build residual shrinkage into the pattern rather than hoping for the best.
Printing and decoration are quoted as a stage of their own. Screen printing in plastisol and water-based inks, discharge and pigment printing for soft hand, high-density and puff, foil and glitter, all-over sublimation on polyester, direct-to-garment for small runs and complex artwork, plus flat and 3D embroidery, appliqué, heat-transfer labels and woven patches. Wash-durability of the print is tested, not assumed.
Activewear and performance ranges use different constructions again — polyester and poly-spandex interlock and jersey with moisture-management finishes, four-way stretch, flatlock seams, gusseted panels and reflective detailing — and are tested for stretch recovery as well as shrinkage.
Winter knitwear from Ludhiana covers flat-knit sweaters and cardigans in 3, 5, 7, 12 and 14 gauge, in acrylic, cotton, wool blends and acrylic-wool, plus thermals in brushed interlock and fleece-backed constructions, and hosiery — socks, innerwear and baby sets — on circular sock machines.
Certification we routinely arrange includes OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GOTS and OCS for organic cotton, BCI for Better Cotton and GRS for recycled polyester, with transaction certificates issued against your shipment.
At a glance
- T-shirts & tops
- Round neck, V-neck, henley, raglan, oversized and drop-shoulder, long sleeve, tank and vest, crop and boxy fits
- Polos & pique
- Classic pique, honeycomb, interlock, tipped collar and cuff, contrast placket, performance polos
- Fleece
- Hoodies, pullover and zip-through sweatshirts, crew necks, joggers, shorts, tracksuits, co-ord sets
- Active & thermal
- Poly-spandex tees, leggings, tights, sports bras, shorts, brushed thermals, base layers
- Winter & hosiery
- Flat-knit sweaters and cardigans 3–14 gauge, socks, innerwear, vests, briefs, baby knitted sets
- Testing
- GSM, ISO 6330 shrinkage, spirality ≤5%, pilling, fastness suite, print wash durability, stretch recovery
How we work
We source from India's established brands — we do not manufacture
Akarta Exports is a sourcing and export house. We do not own factories and we do not claim to. Our value is that we know which well-known Indian brands and manufacturers make what, to what standard, and at what price — and we buy from them to the exact specification you give us.
01 — Your specification, written down
We start from your specification, not from a catalogue. Grade, dimension, tolerance, finish, test standard, pack, artwork and labelling are put in writing and confirmed with you before a single enquiry goes out.
02 — Matched to the right Indian brand
We place that specification with established, well-known Indian brands and manufacturers in the cluster that genuinely makes the product — Morbi for tiles, Rajkot and Ludhiana for machinery, Meerut and Jalandhar for sports goods, Kerala and Gujarat for spices.
03 — Offers compared on merit
Because we own no plant and owe no factory a minimum offtake, we compare offers openly on quality, consistency, capacity and price — and tell you where a lower price will not hold up in your market.
04 — Inspected, consolidated, shipped
Our own inspectors clear the goods at the brand's plant and again before loading. Multiple brands and multiple divisions consolidate into one container, one invoice and one document set.
Brand names are disclosed to you on the offer and named on the inspection report, so you always know whose production you are buying. Where a buyer already has a preferred Indian brand, we are happy to source that brand and handle only the inspection, consolidation, documentation and shipping.
The range
The knitwear programme in detail
- T-shirts & jersey tops
- Round neck, V-neck, henley, polo-neck, raglan, drop-shoulder and oversized t-shirts in 140, 160, 180 and 200 GSM single jersey, combed or carded, bio-washed with silicone softener, plus long-sleeve tees, tank tops, vests, muscle fits, crop tops, boxy tees, melange, slub and stripe jersey, and 200–240 GSM heavyweight tees for premium ranges.
- Polo shirts
- Classic and performance polos in 180–220 GSM pique, honeycomb and interlock, with self, tipped, rib or woven collars, two- and three-button plackets, side vents, contrast piping, chest pockets, and moisture-wicking poly-cotton or 100% polyester constructions for corporate and sports programmes.
- Fleece & sweatshirts
- Pullover and zip-through hoodies, crew-neck sweatshirts, quarter-zips, joggers, sweat shorts and matching co-ord sets in 280, 320 and 380 GSM French terry, brushed fleece and loopback, with rib cuffs and hems, kangaroo and zip pockets, metal or plastic eyelets, drawcords and lined hoods.
- Activewear & performance
- Poly-spandex and poly-cotton performance tees, dry-fit sports tees, running shorts and singlets, leggings, tights, capris, sports bras, cycling shorts, gym vests, seamless base layers and tracksuits, with four-way stretch, flatlock seams, gusseted panels, mesh ventilation panels and reflective tape detailing.
- Winter knitwear & thermals
- Flat-knit pullovers, cardigans, V-neck and crew sweaters, zip-through knits and knitted jackets in 3, 5, 7, 12 and 14 gauge in acrylic, acrylic-wool, cotton and wool blends, plus brushed-interlock and fleece-backed thermal tops and bottoms, thermal sets, caps, scarves, gloves and mufflers from Ludhiana.
- Hosiery & innerwear
- Cotton and cotton-spandex socks in ankle, crew, calf and no-show lengths, sports and terry-cushion socks, school socks, men's vests and briefs, boxers and trunks, women's camisoles and leggings, baby knitted sets, rompers, bodysuits, sleepsuits, caps, mittens and booties.
Technical data
Knit construction data we quote against
Indicative constructions from the units we buy most often. Exact figures and finish route are confirmed on the approved lot before bulk.
Swipe table to see all columns →
| Article | Fabric & GSM | Yarn | Finish | Shrinkage after 3 washes | MOQ per colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic tee | Single jersey 160 GSM | 30s carded ring-spun | Bio-wash, silicone soft | ≤5% length, ≤5% width | 1,000 pcs |
| Premium tee | Single jersey 180 GSM | 30s combed compact | Bio-wash, enzyme, softener | ≤4% length, ≤4% width | 600 pcs |
| Heavyweight tee | Single jersey 220 GSM | 20s combed | Enzyme wash, silicone | ≤4% both directions | 600 pcs |
| Pique polo | Pique 200 GSM | 30s combed | Dyed, silicone finish | ≤5% length, ≤4% width | 600 pcs |
| Performance polo | Poly interlock 190 GSM | 150D micro polyester | Moisture-wicking, anti-odour | ≤2% both directions | 800 pcs |
| Hoodie | Brushed fleece 320 GSM | 20s+30s cotton-poly 60/40 | Brushed, enzyme wash | ≤5% length, ≤4% width | 500 pcs |
| Jogger | French terry 300 GSM | 20s+30s cotton | Enzyme, silicone | ≤5% length, ≤4% width | 500 pcs |
| Legging | Poly-spandex jersey 240 GSM | 75D poly + 40D spandex | Four-way stretch, wicking | ≤3%, recovery ≥95% | 800 pcs |
| Thermal top | Brushed interlock 260 GSM | Cotton-poly blend | Raised brushed inner face | ≤5% both directions | 1,000 pcs |
| Flat-knit sweater | 12 gauge, 480–560 g/pc | 2/32s acrylic or acrylic-wool | Steam pressed, linked trims | ≤3%, no felting | 600 pcs |
Spirality on single-jersey garments is held to 5% maximum. Where a buying protocol requires 3%, production moves to compact-yarn open-width knitting and the price reflects it — we quote both options rather than promising one and shipping the other.
Applications & markets
Programme types we run
Brands & private label
- Blank development to your fit block and GSM
- Screen, discharge, DTG, sublimation and puff printing
- Flat and 3D embroidery, appliqué, woven patches
- Heat-transfer neck labels and printed care labels
- Golden sample retained at unit and at our office
- Repeat runs on a locked fabric and finish route
Promotional & corporate
- Blank tees and polos in a stable colour card
- Corporate logo embroidery with digitised files
- Event-driven quick runs on stock-dyed fabric
- Size-ratio packing by department or branch
- Multi-year colour continuity commitments
- Poly-bag or bulk packing to reduce cube
E-commerce & marketplace
- Low-MOQ launch runs before scaling a style
- Retail poly bags with barcode and FNSKU labels
- Parcel-safe folding and inner packing
- Photography-ready pre-production samples
- SKU-level packing lists for fulfilment intake
- Organic, BCI and GRS certified options
Wholesale & institutional
- Bulk basics at repeatable price bands
- School socks, vests and PT kit programmes
- Winter knitwear and thermal ranges by season
- Mixed containers across summer and winter lines
- Volume-tiered pricing per style quantity
- Consolidation from Tiruppur and Ludhiana in one loading
Division in numbers
140–380
GSM range
Light jersey to brushed fleece
≤5%
Spirality limit
Tested before bulk release
3–14
Sweater gauges
Chunky knit to fine flat-knit
50–80
Days to load
Stock fabric to certified organic
Quality assurance
Nothing leaves India until our own inspectors clear it
Akarta runs an in-house quality department with inspectors assigned to each division. Goods are checked at the factory during production and again before loading, against the written specification agreed on your purchase order — not against the factory's own grading.
- Pre-production sample approved by the buyer before bulk manufacture begins
- In-line checks during production for shade, calibration, dimension and moisture
- Pre-shipment inspection with photographic report before container sealing
- Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) arranged where required
ISO 9001:2015
Certified quality management system
Govt. approved
Registered Indian merchant exporter
In-house docs
Export paperwork prepared by our team
Packing & shipping
Packed the way your market receives it
Knitwear creases, absorbs moisture and takes a set if it is packed under tension. Fabric is relaxed before cutting, garments are folded to a written standard, and every carton is marked with its shade lot.
- Individual polybags with suffocation warning, size sticker, barcode and care label
- Board-and-clip or flat folding to a written fold standard with tissue where specified
- Retail boxes, belly bands and header cards printed to your artwork
- Ratio or solid size packing per carton, marked on the carton and the packing list
- Bulk bale packing for promotional and institutional programmes
- Five-ply cartons with shade-lot and style-wise marking and corner protection
- Silica gel and moisture-barrier liners for monsoon and long-transit shipments
- Carton-wise packing list with style, colour, size and cube before dispatch
Documentation
Paperwork prepared in-house, not outsourced
Every consignment travels with a complete document set, prepared by our own documentation team and checked against your letter of credit or contract terms before dispatch.
Technical pack
Yarn count and spinning system, gauge, loop length, GSM, finish route, graded measurement chart with tolerances, trim card and print or embroidery placement.
Test & certification file
GSM verification, ISO 6330 shrinkage and spirality, pilling, fastness to wash, rubbing, water, perspiration and light, print wash-durability and crocking, stretch recovery on elastane ranges, plus OEKO-TEX, GOTS, OCS, BCI or GRS certificates where claimed.
Inspection report
Fabric inspection before cutting, in-line reports at 20% and 60% of production, and AQL 2.5 final random inspection with measured size checks and photographed defect classification.
Shipping set
Commercial invoice, carton-wise packing list with cube, certificate of origin, bill of lading and insurance certificate where CIF.
Global reach
Quoted in your currency, shipped from your nearest Indian port
Enquiries reach us from importers, distributors, contractors and retail chains across five continents — Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. We quote FOB, CFR or CIF, load from Mundra, Kandla, Nhava Sheva or Pipavav depending on your routing, and keep one commercial contact accountable for the consignment from purchase order to bill of lading.
Africa
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa
Middle East
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq
Europe
Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom
Americas
United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile
Asia-Pacific
Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan
Load ports
Mundra · Kandla · Pipavav · Nhava Sheva
Incoterms
FOB · CFR · CIF · EXW on request
Correspondence
English, with documentation to buyer-country requirements
Buyer questions
What importers usually ask us first
What GSM should I choose for a t-shirt?
160 GSM carded jersey is the standard promotional and value weight, 180 GSM combed is the retail sweet spot for most markets, and 200–220 GSM combed reads as premium and holds shape far better through repeated washing. Warmer markets tend to stay at 160–180; premium and streetwear ranges usually go 200 and above.
What is the difference between combed and carded cotton?
Combing removes short fibres and neps before spinning, which gives a smoother, stronger, less hairy yarn that pills far less and takes print better. Carded yarn is cheaper and perfectly serviceable for promotional goods but will fuzz sooner. The difference shows after ten washes, not in the sample, which is why we state the spinning system on every offer.
How do you prevent t-shirts twisting after washing?
Spirality is controlled at the fabric stage — balanced twist yarn, correct machine gauge and loop length, and open-width processing where the protocol is tight — and verified by testing the approved lot after three wash cycles. We hold 5% as standard and can produce to 3% on compact yarn with the cost stated separately.
Which printing methods do you offer?
Screen printing in plastisol and water-based inks, discharge printing for a soft hand on dark cotton, pigment printing, high-density and puff, foil and glitter, all-over sublimation on polyester, and direct-to-garment for small runs and photographic artwork. Embroidery covers flat, 3D puff, appliqué and woven patches. Print durability is wash-tested before bulk approval.
Can you supply certified organic cotton knitwear?
Yes, through GOTS and OCS certified Tiruppur units with transaction certificates issued against your shipment, and GRS for recycled polyester blends. Certified yarn must be reserved before knitting, so allow 70–85 days rather than the 50–65 days a conventional programme takes.
Do you handle winter knitwear as well as summer?
Yes. Summer jersey, pique and fleece come from Tiruppur; flat-knit sweaters, cardigans, thermals and hosiery come from Ludhiana. Both can be consolidated into one shipment, which is useful for buyers who want a full-year range on a single set of documents.
Common enquiries
Specifications buyers most often ask us to quote
These are the enquiries that reach this desk most weeks. If yours is on the list, we already have the grades, packing and loadability worked out — send the quantity and destination port and we will price it.
Also in this division
Related ranges
Export desk
Request a quotation
Send your product type, grade, quantity and destination port. Our export desk replies with available grades, packing options, loadability and indicative pricing — usually within one working day.