By M.Prabhakar and Mohanraj
Theni Gurukrishna Textile Mills Private Limited, part of the dynamic ATK Group, is gearing up for a high-impact participation at Heimtextil 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, to be held in Frankfurt, Germany. With a renewed product portfolio, expanded capabilities, and an eye firmly on future growth, the company is preparing to make a powerful statement on the global stage.
In an exclusive conversation, Directors Rajasekhar, Lakshmi Raj and Prabhakaran, along with Maheswaran, General Manager, opened up about the company’s performance over the past year, the challenges posed by global market fluctuations, and the innovations they are set to unveil at Heimtextil.
A Year of Challenges—and Quiet Reinvention
Looking back, 2025 will be remembered as one of the most turbulent years for the company—arguably even more difficult than the pandemic era. “During Covid, at least the orders kept coming,” recalls Rajasekhar. “We had consistency. Production was tough, yes, but demand never wavered.”
This year, however, brought a different storm. The US tariff disruptions—coming from their largest export market—slowed down order flows significantly. As a company heavily reliant on American buyers, the impact was felt immediately and sharply.
“Turnover dropped by nearly 15–20%,” he says. “But even then, our bottom line stayed stable. We focused hard on efficiencies, tightened processes, and the last three months have actually been quite strong.”
The company’s long-standing relationships with customers turned out to be one of its strongest assets. Many buyers, understanding the global volatility, continued their support. “They want us to survive, grow, and support each other,” notes Lakshmi Raj. “We gave discounts where needed, and the dollar movement supported us too.”
Innovation Takes Center Stage
Instead of letting the year’s setbacks pull them down, Theni Gurukrishna used the opportunity to innovate and redesign their value proposition. The company has always believed in delivering luxury that remains accessible, but amid rising costs and evolving global competition, that vision took on renewed significance.
“People often chase thread counts,” says Lakshmi Raj. “But we decided to shift the conversation to aesthetics, quality, and feel—without the price tag of premium thread counts.”
This led to the creation of a refreshed portfolio of design-forward, value-centric home textile products. The new collections bring together elegant looks and luxurious textures, while still being competitively priced—an ideal blend for today’s global consumers.
A Complete Home Textiles House
Today, Theni Gurukrishna stands out as one of the most diversified manufacturers in the Indian home textiles landscape.
“We cover the entire range,” says Prabhakaran. “Basic bedding, sheet sets, blankets, duvet covers, quilts, comforters… and then bathroom products—shower curtains, towels, curtains—everything.”
Beyond retail, the company has also built a strong presence in institutional segments. “We are major suppliers to the healthcare and hospitality sectors,” he adds. “Hospital linens, patient gowns, scrubs, hotel bedding, towels… a very broad spectrum.”
Expanding Horizons: New Markets Call
While the US has long been their primary market, the tariff situation compelled them to diversify—and the results are promising.
“We became more confident in Europe and Japan,” shares Maheswaran. “These are strong markets. They need smaller volumes, extremely high quality, and more advanced production techniques.”
To match global expectations, the company has invested significantly in Six Sigma practices and modern quality management systems, enabling them to run small-batch, high-precision production efficiently.
“We’ve also expanded into Japan, Israel, South Africa, and Australia… places we never focused on earlier because the US kept us busy,” he adds.
Investing for the Next Great Leap
Behind the scenes, Theni Gurukrishna has been strengthening its production backbone. New weaving equipment, spinning modernization, and strategic consolidation have helped improve efficiencies across the board. “We shifted divisions, merged operations, restructured looms… all to cut inefficiencies and reduce costs,” explains Rajasekhar.
Several major expansions have already been completed, including a fully operational continuous processing range. New capabilities in digital printing, quilting, comforter production, and modern vacuum packing are being added rapidly.
A significant development is also underway: “We’re coming up with a new Made-Ups expansion, capable of producing 10,000 sheets per day,” reveals Lakshmi Raj. “The building is ready.”
Heimtextil 2026: The Big Showcase
For Heimtextil 2026, ATK is working closely with leading yarn innovators to develop advanced blends in MMF, Supima, and Egyptian cotton. While the final product lineup remains under wraps, the theme is set: ‘Reaching beyond Limitations’.
“When a customer walks into our booth, they should find everything they need,” says Prabhakaran. “A complete package—well-designed, affordable, backed by large capacity. And the ability to scale whenever required.”
Sustainability: A Deep-Rooted Commitment
Sustainability is no longer a buzzword for ATK—it is a way of life. “Almost 90% of our energy already comes from green sources,” shares Rajasekhar. Rooftop solar projects are underway, and the company’s world-class ETP ensures zero liquid discharge.
Perhaps the most significant move is the shift from coal to biomass. “All our boilers now run on wood chips or briquettes,” he says. “That has drastically lowered our carbon footprint.”
The company’s open-end spinning division produces 30–35 tons a day, using mostly recycled fibers. Sustainable PET blends, MMF innovations, natural-dye explorations, and cool-comfort finishing techniques further strengthen their green manufacturing ethos.
Looking Ahead with Optimism
Despite the uncertainties posed by the US tariff issue, the leadership remains optimistic. “Of course, the tariff issue hangs heavy,” says Lakshmi Raj. “We hope it is lifted soon. Meanwhile, we are diversifying markets and attending more fairs, with a strong focus on innovation.”
His belief in India’s textile future is unwavering. “India is going to be the world’s largest textile manufacturer very soon,” he says with conviction. “By 2030, we will overtake China in capacity. We have the population strength, stable government, new technologies, export incentives—everything aligned for growth.”
“We welcome visitors from around the world to our booth at Heimtextil 2026,” he signs off.
