South Asia Textiles Archives

January 19, 2023

• Innovative range of next-gen eco-friendly fabric dye derived from charcoal waste

• Only Sri Lankan firm ranked on the ‘Top 10 Innovations in Street Sports’ at ISPO Munich 2022

• Winner of Best Projects Sustainability Award 2022 by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

South Asia Textiles (Pvt) Ltd. (SAT), a subsidiary of Hayleys Fabric PLC is making waves in the global and local fashion industry with ‘Midnight by Charcoal’ – a novel range of textiles featuring organic dyes derived from biomass charcoal waste.

SAT’s ‘Midnight’ range gained fresh international acclaim, after winning a place among the ‘Top 10 Innovations in the Street Sports’ category at ISPO Munich – a leading German platform for discovering and showcasing the world’s most innovative, sustainable, high-performance fabrics. This is the second time in the past year that a powerful Sri Lankan innovation in eco-friendly fabric dyes has been recognized by ISPO, and both from the Hayleys Fabric Group.

Locally, the ‘Midnight’ innovation also won the coveted Best Projects Sustainability Award, at the recently concluded Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2022 (BCCSA), organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

“The entire team at Hayleys Fabric and South Asian Textiles is honored by the positive response following the launch of our fabric dye ‘Midnight by Charcoal’. We believe that such organically sourced, eco-friendly innovations hold the potential to create the next generation of sustainable textiles. In line with our purpose: to strengthen the fabric of society by knitting together a better environment for all, these solutions are enabling a new paradigm of circularity across the global fashion industry” Hayleys Fabric Managing Director, Rohan Goonetilleke said.

Notably, SAT was the only textile manufacturer to win at this year’s BCCSA, which is considered to be Sri Lanka’s most competitive, and highest profile platform for showcasing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) leadership.

The sustainable innovations being pioneered at the Hayleys Group’s textile manufacturing sector are part of a broader commitment towards the policies and targets laid out in the Hayleys Lifecode. Leading the charge on the company’s eco-friendly fabric dyes is Hayleys Fabric PLC Head of Sustainability and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Pioneer for Responsible Production, Leonie Vaas.

“While the fashion industry is associated with a large environmental footprint, we believe that sustainable innovations pioneered at Hayleys Fabric could pave the way to a truly circular model for fashion globally. If we can transition from synthetic to natural dyes completely, it is estimated that we could potentially reduce Green House Gas emissions by as much as 36%.

“This has immense positive implications for the environment, especially given that the global market for natural dye is projected to hit $ 5 billion by 2024. This growth is being driven by a new generation of conscious consumers that are genuinely passionate about supporting and rewarding brands that can demonstrate a real positive impact. ”

Hayleys Fabric PLC is a pioneer in textiles manufacturing in Sri Lanka capable of delivering end-to-end solutions from design to manufacture, and was the first apparel sector company to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 2003. Maintaining a production capacity of 4.5 million meters of fabric per month, the company stands as a leading partner to globally renowned fashion, apparel and accessories brands, including Nike, Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Decathlon, NEXT, PVH, Asics, PINK Intimissimi, Marks and Spenser, and Calzedonia..

South Asia Textiles, a subsidiary of Hayleys Fabric PLC, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of textiles. The company commenced its commercial operations in 2004 and specialises in knitting, dyeing, finishing, printing, brushing, and sueding pre-shrunk fabric.

Hayleys Fabric and SAT are both signatories to the Science-Based Targets initiatives (SBTi) for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and limiting global warming to1.5°C as part of a broader effort to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. SAT also recently obtained the ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications for elevating its environmental sustainability and employee health and safety systems on par with global best practices.

May 18, 2022

South Asia Textiles (SAT), a fully-owned subsidiary Hayleys Fabric PLC, also joined its parent company in committing to the Science-Based Targets initiatives (SBTi) for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and limiting global warming to1.5°C. Hayleys Fabric is a pioneering fabric manufacturer in the Country. The Hayleys Fabric Group is the largest manufacturer in Sri Lanka.

With Hayleys Fabric leading as the 1^st Textile manufacturer, SAT took the lead to be the second textile manufacturer in the country. Overall, we are two of the total of five manufacturers to add its name to a growing list of major global corporations committing to the SBTi.

“With the launch of the Hayleys Lifecode by our parent, Hayleys PLC, we started to introduce our own customized roadmap, and defined targets to supplement the inherent knowledge and expertise built up within our organization, in order to anchor our performance to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). With our commitment to SBTi, we have gained even greater competitive advantages, which align with the rising consumer demand for more sustainable brands,” South Asia Textiles and Hayleys Fabric Managing Director/CEO, Rohan Goonetilleke said.

SBTi specifies how much and how quickly a company needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement goals to limit global warming keeping it at 1.5°C and well below 2°C, and is also part of a broader effort to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

These targets will be achieved through innovation, reducing waste, unlocking efficiencies, and strengthening investor confidence while reducing regulatory risk, uncertainty, and exposure to volatility in energy costs. Crucially, significant positive environmental sustainability initiatives undertaken will support the company’s commitment to SBTi .

Launched in collaboration with CDP Worldwide, World Resources Institute (WRI), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the Targets are globally recognized commitments that companies make as part of the We Mean Business Coalition’s Take Action platform on climate change.

As part of its commitments, SAT also recently obtained the ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications for elevating its environmental sustainability and employee health and safety systems on par with global best practices.

In pursuit of these certifications, the company made significant investments towards the upgrade its effluent water treatment plant, including installing a high-quality raw water filtration unit. Moreover, the company formed environment, health, and safety (EHS) teams representing all departments to update and enhance EHS protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and conduct comprehensive training and awareness sessions.

March 30, 2022

Obtains ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications for Environmental Management and Occupational Health and Safety Management

South Asia Textiles (SAT), a leading manufacturer and exporter of textiles, has received ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications for elevating its environmental sustainability and employee health and safety systems on par with global standards.

South Asia Textiles, a fully owned subsidiary of Hayleys Fabric PLC, made significant investments to upgrade its effluent water treatment plant including installation of a high-quality raw water filtration unit. Moreover, the company formed environment, health and safety (EHS) teams representing all departments, to update and enhance EHS protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs), and conduct comprehensive training and awareness sessions.

Reflecting the success of these concerted initiatives, following rigorous audits by SGS Lanka Pvt Ltd, South Asia Textiles was recently awarded the ISO1 4001 Environment Management System and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certifications.

“Today, a high degree of ethical and sustainable business practices and management systems are required by leading apparel buyers. Since becoming part of Hayleys Fabric and the Hayleys Group in April 2021, South Asia Textiles has fast-tracked improvements across all operations,” South Asia Textiles and Hayleys Fabric Managing Director/ CEO, Rohan Goonetilleke said.

“I am pleased that South Asia Textiles has now further enhanced its competitive export positioning and strengthened its degree of responsibility with these 2 global ISO certifications.”

South Asia Textiles, a subsidiary of Hayleys Fabric PLC, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of textiles. The company, which commenced its commercial operations in 2004, specialises in knitting, dyeing, finishing, printing, bushing, and sueding pre-shrunk fabric for leading global brands such as Victoria Secret, Next, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Calvin Klein, Decathlon and Adidas.

June 23, 2020

Partners with HeiQ Materials AG to use their textile technology HeiQ Viroblock on the knitted jersey fabric the company is producing a face mask program in the US.
HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is among the first textile technologies in the world to be proven effective against SARS-CoV-2 in the laboratory. Tests conducted by Swiss textile innovator HeiQ with the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia (Doherty Institute) showed that treated fabric achieved 99.99% reduction of the virus in only 30 minutes.

Colombo, Sri Lanka: South Asia Textiles Limited, a leading Sri Lankan textile manufacturer specialized in producing exceptional quality weft knitted fabric for leading brands across the globe and HeiQ Materials AG, a Swiss based global leader in textile innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies currently available across the world, are collaborating to produce a specially treated fabric to be used for masks exported to the US (United States of America). South Asia Textiles’ knitted jersey fabric combined with HeiQ’s recently launched anti-viral and anti-microbial agent, HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 was commissioned by a high-quality US brand working in close collaboration with partners in the US.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Prithiv Dorai, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, South Asia Textiles Limited stated, “We are excited about the partnership with HeiQ and are hopeful that we can positively contribute towards the need of the situation. Our versatility and the ability to manufacture new technology enabled material within a short span of time is our key strength. The fact that we were nominated and selected for this project is a testament to consistency and superior quality standards that we maintain at South Asia Textiles”.

South Asia Textiles, a subsidiary of Ambeon Holdings PLC, commenced its commercial operations in 2004. The company also specializes in Knitting, Dyeing, Finishing, Printing, Brushing, Sueding and Preshrunk fabric for leading global brands such as Victoria Secret, Next, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Calvin Klein, Decathlon and Adidas.

“At a time when the world is battling to create a better place amidst current global pandemic, the Ambeon Group is pleased to be able to continue support towards the betterment of the people of Sri Lanka and the world,” stated Mr Murali Prakash, Group Managing Director Ambeon Capital PLC and Ambeon Holdings PLC. “As a member of the Ambeon Group, South Asia Textiles is one of Sri Lanka’s leading manufacturer of textiles supplying to global brands, innovating products to suit various requirements that arise. As such it is with great pleasure that we partner with HeiQ, our trusted innovation partner who created HeiQ Viroblock, for these specialized masks which we believe will make a difference in this global fight against the Coronavirus pandemic,” concluded Mr. Prakash.

HeiQ is the global leader in textile innovation specializes in research, manufacturing and marketing of high-quality, high-performance textile finishing. The Swiss-based material science organization with offices, R&D centers and manufacturing facilities on four continents continues to serve brands and textile mills globally. The company’s latest innovation, HeiQ Viroblock is an antimicrobial / antibacterial / antiviral textile technology specially engineered to work against enveloped viruses, such as influenza viruses and human coronaviruses. HeiQ Viroblock is among the first textile finishing technologies that have been successfully tested against the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, SARS-CoV-2, in the laboratory, using the Viral Stability and Persistence test method. HeiQ Viroblock treated fabrics showed over 99.99% reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viruses after 30 minutes. In the case of Sendai viruses, over 99.2% viruses are deactivated within two minutes based on modified ISO 20743 method. Compared to untreated face masks, HeiQ Viroblock treated FFP2 face masks showed greatly reduced virus infectivity of key virus types: H1N1, H5N1, H7N9, Coronavirus (229E), and RSV in face mask testing.

Mr. Musa Raibin, VP South Asia Brandforce stated that “The Team at South Asia Textiles is one of most skilled in the region, with the necessary openness and eagerness to pursue innovation at the right time. We had a seamless onboarding process with the finishing team going above and beyond to ensure that every requirement was met perfectly. It has been a pleasure working with the team so far and we hope to continue this smooth collaboration for many more years to come.”

About South Asia Textiles

South Asia Textiles’ strategic location, attention to detail and superior levels of client servicing continues to assure these global giants that it is a credible Sri Lankan source for quality textiles that maintains the highest international standards while, at the same time, supplying products fast via short lead times. With an experienced management team at the helm, the company continues to bring in new innovations, fabric solutions, value added products and finishes that meet the exacting requirements of leading global designers and brands. Meeting the challenges and demands of the global fashion industry, the company continues to attract new customers, maintaining quality and service parameters and focusing on growth through operational and cost efficiencies that result in sustainable benefits for years to come.

About HeiQ

Founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies on the market today. HeiQ’s purpose is to improve the lives of billions of people by perfecting an everyday product: Textiles. Combining three areas of expertise – scientific research, specialty materials manufacturing and consumer ingredient branding – HeiQ is the ideal innovation partner to create differentiating and sustainable textile products and capture the added value at the point of sale. With a total capacity of 35’000 tons per year HeiQ manufactures in the USA, Switzerland and Australia serving its chemical specialties in over 60 countries worldwide.

HeiQ, HeiQ Viroblock and Viroblock are trademark(s) or registered trademarks of HeiQ Materials AG.

December 17, 2017

South Asia Textiles Limited, a leading Sri Lankan textile manufacturer specialized in producing exceptional quality weft knitted fabric, recently announced that the company was the recipient of the Silver award in Manufacturing – apparel, textile and leather products sector at the prestigious National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) 2017.

Commenting post, the winning of this accolade, Mr. Prithiv Dorai – Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of South Asia Textiles Limited stated “We are pleased to be recognized once more for excellence at NBEA 2017. Having been highlighted for being a positive role model for local manufacturing, generally, and helping elevate the profile of the local apparel, textile and leather products sectors, specifically; we are truly touched by this great honor and its cementing our status as a company to emulate in Sri Lanka,”.

South Asia Textiles, a subsidiary of Lanka Century Investments PLC, commenced its commercial operations in 2004. Strategically located in close proximity to garment manufacturing units and export processing zones that produces high quality garments to both local and international clients, South Asia Textiles maintains its manufacturing dominance through its ultra-modern manufacturing plant that produces exceptional quality weft knitted fabric.

The company also specializes in Knitting, Dyeing, Finishing, Printing, Brushing, Sueding and Preshrunk fabric for leading global brands such as Victoria Secret, Next, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Calvin Klein, Decathlon, Levis, Hugo Boss and Adidas. South Asia Textile’s strategic location, attention to detail, superior levels of client servicing and modern technology continues to assure these global giants of a being a credible Sri Lankan source for quality textiles which is in par with international standards and supplied with faster lead times.

With an experienced management at the helm, South Asia Textiles continues to the company continues to bring new innovations, fabric solutions, value added products and finishes to the designers and brands of leading global giants. Meeting the challenges and demands of the global fashion industry, the company continues to attract new customers, maintaining quality and service parameters and focusing on growth through operational and cost efficiencies which will result in sustainable benefits in years to come.

October 25, 2017

Prithiv Dorai – Managing Director/CEO of South Asia Textiles Limited. (2nd from right), Hilmy Cader – CEO MTI Consulting (3rd from right) and Murali Prakash - Group Managing Director / CEO of Lanka Century Investments

October 3, 2017

South Asia Textiles has won Gold at the NCE Export Awards, held at the Hilton Hotel.

Achieving excellence in combination with success, South Asia Textiles is a company like no other. Situated in Pugoda, it has been Sri Lanka’s fastest growing textile manufacturer in recent times.

A company driven by passion and dynamism, headed by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Prithiv Dorai and a team of professionals, Director / Chief Operations Officer Mr. Kenneth Wijesuriya and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Priyantha Hapuarachi, South Asia Textiles has taken its textile mill from strength to strength.

With a commitment to providing “Endless Possibilities”, South Asia Textiles is one of the few manufacturers in Asia to produce over 1,400 varieties of knitted fabrics with a wide range of finishes in one single plant, which makes it very unique in comparison to other mills in the region.

The latest Spring / Summer release of its new fabric collection varies with a combination of complex varieties developed for top brands such Under Armour, Lulu Lemon, Amazon and Zara to mention just a few.

As a subsidiary company of LCI Holdings, many new programs have been initiated to improve performance within the company. South Asia Textiles has now partnered with MTI and IFS, which has fueled progress with a long-term vision and the introduction of new generation software and performance technology to help it grow and sustain its performance for the future.

South Asia Textiles ‘MIDNIGHT’ organic fabric dye wins global and local acclaim

South Asia Textiles commits to SBTi to limit global warming at 1.5°C

South Asia Textiles on par with global standards in employee safety and environmental sustainability

South Asia Textiles Partners with HeiQ Materials AG

South Asia Textiles awarded once again for National Business Excellence Awards 2017

South Asia Textiles to implement MTI-enabled Strategic Plan

South Asia Textiles Wins Gold