South India Hosiery Manufacturers Association

WHO WE ARE

South India Hosiery Manufacturers Association Since 1956

The Cradle of India’s Knitwear Capital

Established on December 7, 1956, the South India Hosiery Manufacturers' Association (SIHMA) is the premier pioneer organization dedicated to the growth and development of the hosiery industry in India. Widely revered as the "Mother Association" of Tiruppur, SIHMA provided the foundational framework that transformed a small town into India’s undisputed knitwear capital.

Registered on March 18, 1957, as a formal society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 (Registration No. 6 of 1957), SIHMA has evolved from a close-knit group of 106 founding members to a massive network comprising over 1,500 active domestic manufacturers supplying innerwear, outerwear, and readymade garments across India.

Core Pillars & Functional Support

SIHMA’s legacy extends far beyond industry advocacy. The association serves as a structural guardian for small, medium, and large-scale enterprises by stepping in across multiple critical areas:

Raw Material & Yarn Price Stabilization: Assisting manufacturers in navigating yarn price fluctuations and streamlining supply chain procurement to keep production cost-effective.
Industrial Harmony: Serving as a primary architect in historic bipartite wage agreements and labor relations, ensuring decades of uninterrupted industrial peace in Tiruppur.
Infrastructure Advocacy: Spearheading major local developments, most notably the establishment of the iconic SIDCO Industrial Estate on Harvey Road, which gave thousands of local units a dedicated space to scale.
Compliance & Legal Support: Assisting members with Bureau of Indian Standards (B.I.S.) certifications, navigating Central Excise and GST parameters, and resolving legacy "C-Form" tax complexities.
Crisis Management: Providing active financial and strategic assistance to factories and textile workers in times of economic distress, shifting market conditions, or natural crises.

Our Leadership Legacy

SIHMA’s enduring success is built on a foundation of stable, visionary leadership. Over nearly seven decades, the association has been guided by dedicated presidents who shaped the landscape of the Indian textile sector:

Tenure	President	Key Milestones & Legacy
1956 – 1968	Janab S.A. Khader	Founder President: Steered the association through its challenging foundational years, introducing early local mechanization.
1968 – 2008	Shri. Mohan P. Kandasamy (Mohanji)	40-Year Historic Tenure: Orchestrated massive industry expansion, mediated critical labor milestones, and successfully campaigned for the Harvey Road SIDCO estate.
2008 – 2009	Shri. Carona Swaminathan	Transitional Leadership: Provided dedication and continuity during a crucial operational phase.
2009 – 2025	Shri. Viking A.C. Eswarann	Modernization Era: Served over 16 years, heavily digitalizing the association, launching web portals, and leading the domestic manufacturing sector through global market shifts.
2025 – Present	Mr. Essdee P. Shanmugasundaram	Next-Gen Innovation: Assumed office on October 1, 2025, driving SIHMA into its next chapter of sustainable production, green textile tech, and e-commerce integration.

Key Achievements & Modern Ecosystem

Today, SIHMA manufacturers utilize a world-class production line spanning state-of-the-art automatic stripe and jacquard knitting machines, eco-friendly automated processing (such as Winch bleaching and compacting), and cutting-edge decoration methodologies including reactive, discharge, and sublimation printing. Members operate with a deep commitment to environmental standard practices, championing Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) RO systems across the regional processing sectors.

Our Promise: Adapting to modern technologies while fiercely protecting the domestic textile ecosystem, SIHMA remains the steadfast voice of the Indian hosiery manufacturer.