Cotton Queen: India's Textile Legacy and Who Leads the Industry

When people talk about the Cotton Queen, a symbolic title given to the most influential figure or region in India’s cotton textile sector. Also known as textile royalty, it doesn’t refer to one person—it’s a title earned by the force of production, policy, and passion behind India’s cotton supply chain. India grows more cotton than almost any country on earth, and turns it into fabrics that ship to over 150 nations. This isn’t just about farming. It’s about mills in Surat, looms in Tiruppur, and policies in Gujarat that turn raw fiber into high-margin exports.

The Gujarat Textile Policy 2024, a state-level framework offering incentives to manufacturers, exporters, and tech adopters in the textile sector is a big reason why cotton production here keeps rising. It doesn’t just subsidize machines—it rewards innovation in dyeing, recycling, and automation. Meanwhile, the Indian textile industry, a $150 billion sector employing over 45 million people and accounting for 13% of the country’s industrial output isn’t just about traditional handlooms anymore. It’s blending old skills with new tech: automated spinning, digital printing, and eco-friendly finishes that meet global standards.

Who really holds the crown? It’s not one name—it’s a network. A farmer in Maharashtra grows the fiber. A family-run unit in Tamil Nadu weaves it. A factory in Ahmedabad dyes it with zero wastewater. And a trader in Mumbai ships it to Bangladesh, the US, or Germany. The Cotton Queen is this whole system—quiet, relentless, and deeply rooted in local economies. You won’t find her on a magazine cover, but you’ll find her in every shirt, sari, and bedsheet made in India.

Below, you’ll find real stories and data from people who live this industry every day. From how zero-investment startups are turning cotton scraps into profit, to why Gujarat leads chemical use in dyeing, to how India’s textile exports are beating China in niche markets. These aren’t theories. They’re blueprints.