Search

CÁMARA NACIONAL

DE LA INDUSTRIA TEXTIL

History

The National Chamber of the Textile Industry / CANAINTEX is an organization constituted on May 7th, 1937 with the objective of Representing, Promoting and Defending the general interests of the Textile Industry in the Mexican Republic.

Since its constitution, 85 years ago, CANAINTEX has been formed by companies dedicated to each link in the production chain, including those of vertical Integration that concentrate all the productive processes of the Textile Industry, considered this as the sector for the production of fibers, yarns, fabrics and their derivatives, such as ready-made garments, linens and other highly specialized textiles aimed at sectors like the Automotive and Aeronautics.

History and process of the Textile Industry

History

This is the central element of the project “Del Campo al Aparador” (From the field to the apparel), driven by CANAINTEX as a Business Plan between the Federal Government and the private initiative. This allows the integration of the Greatest National Content to all the production chain, aligning itself to the objectives of the National Development Plan 2019-2024.

BACKGROUND OF THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN MEXICO

It is said that the word “Cotton” comes from the Arab term “al”: the, and “qutn” which is also
received from the indian “godon”. However, in Mexico this natural fiber received different names depending on the geographic area:

  • Ichcatl – Azteca
  • Tucata – Mixteco
  • Xilla – Zapoteco
  • Panamac – Papantla’s dialect
  • Xurata – Purepecha
  • Tuxnue – Txotxil
  • Sliá – Chatino

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Indians wove thick and fine fabrics which were decorated with interwoven feathers on them. Lorenzo Boturini Benaducci, historian and chronicler of the indigenous cultures in New Spain, according to him, one of these fabrics was sent to Rome and drew attention due to its finesse.

In terms of the tools, the aztecs used a spindle called “malacatl”. While for weaving they had a loom called “otate” that consisted in hanging up the threads in two crossed sticks and to start forming the cloth with the “chochopaxtli” which we now know as “lanzadera” (shuttle).