Tehran - Iran is the largest consumer of black cloth for Chador (all-enveloping garment for female) in the world. In the meantime, the country imports almost 100% of its domestic need from Japan and Korea, general director of Textile Industries Office of Mines and Industries Ministry Golnaz Nasrollahi said on Wednesday.
At the moment, there are only two black fabric (mainly crepe) production units for Chador in the country of average quality. However, upon completion of studies in this case, there would be more of Chador fabric produced domestically. Moreover, each unit's production capacity stands at 6 million meters annually, of which, 10-15% is allocated for Chador use and the rest are color fabrics.
High finished cost of domestically produced black crepe, compared to those of the foreign ones, is another obstacle to mass production of this mostly needed product and majority of textile factories are more geared to make color fabrics. Furthermore, the official record sets the annual import of Chador cloth at 25-30 million meters, finding its way to the country mainly through the UAE.
Sophisticated technology involved in dyeing the fabric in black and absence of funds, or economic feasibility, are two major obstacles on the way of development of this sector of textile industry in Iran, Nasrollahi said in conclusion.
© Tehran Times 2005
