By M.Prabhakar and Mohanraj

VTM Limited, part of the well-known Thiagarajar Group in Madurai, has long been a respected name in India’s textile ecosystem. Today, under the dynamic leadership of Ms. Visalakshi “Sala” Kannan, Director, the company is rapidly expanding its global footprint—offering a product portfolio that seamlessly blends luxury, innovation, and sustainability.

As the company gears up for a high-visibility showcase at Heimtextil 2026, Ms. Kannan shares the company’s journey, product innovations, and future strategies in an exclusive conversation.

Customer-Centric Strength

The year has been a challenging one for the textile sector worldwide, with geopolitical disruptions and tariff-related shocks affecting global supply chains. Yet, VTM Limited has held its ground remarkably well.

“Like everyone else, we’ve been affected by the tariffs. But despite that, our business continues to grow,” Ms. Kannan says with confidence. “Customer relationships are extremely important to us. Excellence in manufacturing and quality is crucial, but customer service is one of our strongest pillars. That has helped us weather this exogenous economic shock.”

Instead of viewing tariff disruptions purely as obstacles, she believes they carry important lessons. “The chaos in the market forces us to think differently. Indian textile players must introspect—how do we become leaner, more efficient, and more innovative? That’s the real takeaway from these US tariffs.”

She adds that VTM has actively begun diversifying its market presence. “We are putting significant resources into geographic diversification and making full use of India’s new free trade agreements.”

Textiles for Climate & Wellbeing

Few companies articulate the interplay between textiles and climate as clearly as VTM. For Ms. Kannan, innovation is deeply tied to emerging global realities. “We are interested in understanding how textiles can solve climate change. Temperatures are fluctuating everywhere—hotter summers, colder winters, unpredictable rains. And textiles play a major role because we wear them, sleep on them, and use them across our homes.”

This thought process has shaped the company’s new product development strategy. The first major focus is climate-responsive textiles—products designed to support comfort in rapidly changing weather conditions. The second is wellness-oriented textiles aimed at enhancing customer wellbeing. “We want to make the end customer happier and healthier. Wellness-oriented textiles are a key focus for us,” she explains.

Sustainability remains woven into the company’s DNA. “We are constantly experimenting with new biodegradable and natural fibers. We study their performance and blend them in unique ways to deliver better fabric feel and functionality.”

A Broad, Evolved Product Portfolio

VTM Limited offers an expansive range of products across the home textile and lifestyle categories.

“In home textiles, we work extensively with sustainable products—organic cotton, Egyptian cotton, linen, hemp, nettle, banana fiber and more. Our weaving expertise is our biggest value addition, especially in top-of-bed items, ”she notes.

Its range includes:

• Sustainable sheet sets
• Quilts, blankets, comforters, throws
• Loungewear—bathrobes, pajamas
• Spa & hospitality textiles
• Utility bedding such as mattress protectors and pads
• Specialized temperature- and moisture-management fabrics

She adds, “Our design team and weaving team are stellar. That expertise translates beautifully in our top-of-bed collections.” The company’s loungewear line aligns with its wellness goals.

“We focus on comfort—cooling properties, moisture management, ultra-soft sensorial fabrics. The idea is to make the customer feel good, not just look good,” she points out.

A New State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Unit

VTM is now preparing to commission its second home textiles unit—a major capacity expansion that underscores the company’s future ambitions.

“It’s a 100,000 sq. ft. automated, AI-driven facility. Fabric checking will be AI-based and computer vision will support our stitching operations. This makes our processes vastly more efficient—right from defect control to inventory clarity, “she says.

The inauguration is planned right after Heimtextil 2026.

What to Expect at Heimtextil 2026

The company’s presentation at Heimtextil promises freshness, innovation, and strong visual appeal. “Visitors will see new fibers and unique fiber blends, each solving a specific customer problem—cooling, sustainability, or superior functionality. Nettle and banana fiber blends will be among the major highlights. Top-of-bed collections will feature fresh, sophisticated designs, and wellness textiles will have a dedicated focus, “she highlights.

Adding a creative twist, the VTM booth will carry a floral theme.

“With so much negativity around the world, we wanted a benign, happy, beautiful theme. Our booth will have giant mechanical flowers—you simply cannot miss it!”

Standing Out in a Global Market

In a competitive global home textiles environment, VTM offers something remarkably unique—a 3PL capability integrated into manufacturing.

“We act as a warehouse for many of our customers. We run a professional logistics operation here, achieving an accuracy rate greater than many established/dedicated 3PS. Instead of bulk shipments and overseas warehousing, we directly connect to the customer’s backend and ship parcels from here, “she explains. She highlights how this eliminates shipping delays, warehousing costs abroad, and last-mile inefficiencies.

“We manufacture, we pack, and we ship directly to the customer’s doorstep. It’s a non-traditional, globally scalable model—and customers absolutely love it.”

Sustainability: A Deep, Genuine Commitment

VTM’s sustainability efforts go far beyond certifications.

“We maintain a minimum 75% green cover. All rooftops are solar, and we have both ground-mounted solar plants and windmills, making us highly energy efficient,” Ms. Kannan says.

Other sustainability practices include:

• Water recycling
• Waste recycling and up cycling into usable products
• Use of recycled polyester in fillings
• Biodegradable packaging
• An in-campus organic dairy farm and vegetable garden
• Near-zero waste manufacturing

This year, VTM has also earned the Fair Trade certification, adding another strong credential to its sustainability ethos. “This will be our first Heimtextil with the Fair Trade certification, and we’re very excited about it.”

Advanced Functional Finishes

VTM’s textiles also incorporate a range of specialized finishes.

“Our moisture-wicking finish is great for customers who sweat at night, helping maintain comfort. We also use finishes that regulate fabric temperature within a specific, pleasant range,” she explains.

FTAs & Industry Outlook

Ms. Kannan believes India’s recent FTAs will be a significant competitive advantage for textile manufacturers. “It’s a step in the right direction. FTAs make us globally competitive. I think we’ll see the real impact during Heimtextil when the inquiries start coming in,” she observes.

Sounding optimistic about the industry’s trajectory she says, “The future is bright. Cluster manufacturing—like the MITRA Parks—will boost efficiencies and strengthen India’s position.”

VTM too is looking ahead with clarity. “We’re opening our new unit and expanding our global footprint. Growth is definitely on the cards.”

Visit VTM at Heimtextil 2026

Visitors can experience the full range of VTM Limited’s innovations—from climate-responsive fabrics and wellness textiles to new blends and sustainable solutions at Hall 9.0, Booth E60.