The textile industry of Mazandaran began operations in 1930. The first industrial units in the province were established during this year. These large factories are full of memories for many compatriots born between the 1930s and 1950s. From the women who queued in front of Mazandaran Textile stores to buy sheets, to those who gathered raw materials from cotton fields to feed the industry, and the five thousand workers who woke up every morning to the sound of the factory’s loud horn. Even students who attended the Mazandaran Textile Industrial School were part of this rich history. All of these represent sweet memories of life shaped by the activities of the textile industry in Mazandaran.
Mazandaran Textile Industry
The Mazandaran textile industry consists of three factories. The first unit is a calico mill, the second produces fabrics such as curtains, sheets, shirts, and woolen fabrics, both of which are located in the city of Qaemshahr. The third focuses on the production of yarn and synthetic textiles and is located in Mazandaran. Each of these factories carried out all stages of fabric production, including spinning (yarn production from cotton), weaving, dyeing, and marketing. Additionally, through its branches established across the country, these factories sold their products. The textile industry in Mazandaran holds particular significance for the people of this region. Not long ago, it was rare to find a family in the area without one or two members working in these factories.
Decline of the Textile Industry in Mazandaran
Over the past few years, the textile industry of Mazandaran has declined due to outdated machinery, reduced cotton production, failure to keep up with global technological advancements, and frequent changes in management. The downturn continued to the point where factories began to go bankrupt, wages were delayed, and production halls were closed. To meet wage obligations, even textile machinery was sold off, and some factory roofs were sold to pay workers. The region became known as the “tired city.”
The problems of Mazandaran’s textile industry became publicly visible in 1993 when the industry was handed over to Bank Melli in an attempt to resolve issues caused by state ownership. Afterward, the remaining units were further privatized under various governments, and the situation only became more confusing and stagnated without any recovery. Each government promised to resolve the issues, but proved completely ineffective in creating widespread employment opportunities. Today, there is no trace of the first and second factories, and the area where they once stood has turned into ruins and piles of rubble. The textile industry in Mazandaran once held great prestige and had provided jobs for countless young people from various provinces. However, privatization, or more aptly privatization abuse, severely damaged the foundation of this old factory.
