Apparel Archives - Page 2 of 6

May 15, 2023

15^th May 2023: In 2020, the Hirdaramani Group announced their Future First initiative, a truly ambitious and comprehensive Sustainability Roadmap for 2025. As part of their commitment to transparency and accountability, the Group has released their second annual Sustainability Report with detailed data-driven updates on Hirdaramani’s progress in 2022 towards achieving the 28 targets they have committed to.

“When we released our 2021 Sustainability Report, we also promised continuous improvement and transparency in our reporting – and with this latest report we have delivered. In 2022, we aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and committed to additional best practices such as the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which have enabled us to set new standards in data collection, reporting and most importantly verification,” said Siddarth Hirdaramani, Director, Hirdaramani Group. “Measuring actual impact is a core priority for us and we will continue to invest in this.”

Hirdaramani has a longstanding commitment to sustainability, and the Future First 2025 roadmap builds on this foundation with a focus on four key areas; conserving the environment, empowering associates, supporting communities, and building trust in their products and brand.

The company reports that they are on track to achieve the targets set, showing impressive results in reducing carbon emissions, water management and control of waste across all facilities and locations. The Group has also been successful in meeting and often exceeding their targets for employee training & development as well as the reach of their community projects.

This year has seen continued investments in renewable energy via the expansion of their rooftop solar projects as well as investments in stand alone wind and solar projects. The product development teams have made significant strides in promoting sustainable fashion by launching multiple circular apparel programs for strategic customers and have also started detailed tracking on the volume of “Certified Sustainable” materials that are sourced and used for production.

2022 being a difficult year for the Sri Lankan economy, Hirdaramani directed their focus to supporting communities with food donation programs as well as donating much needed medication to hospitals across the island. They also launched a landmark program ‘Hirdaramani Waga Sangramaya’ starting with model vegetable gardens in factories an initiative which also aimed to promote home gardening amongst employees, with a larger goal to set up gardens in communities. By the end of 2022, the company had established 11 community gardens. This project received the Best Project Award at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2022 organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The Group is also more focused than ever on promoting Wonders of Wellbeing (WOW), their in-house developed, globally recognised, wellbeing program that drives diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization, supporting the concept of every employee living “healthy, wealthy, happy and meaningful lives”.

Read the Full report on the Hirdaramani website www.hirdaramani.com/sustainability

May 15, 2023

MAS Foundation for Change, the non-profit arm of South Asian apparel tech conglomerate, MAS Holdings, announced direct-to-consumer intimate apparel brand Adore Me, a Certified B Corporation™, as the funding partner for its recently launched mangrove restoration project.

Sri Lanka, where the MAS Foundation for Change is headquartered, is a mangrove hotspot, home to 22 species of plants – yet some estimate that 50% of the island’s mangroves have been destroyed by farming, tourism, settlement, and pollution.

The MAS Foundation for Change is an independent non-profit organization aimed at tackling the social and environmental challenges faced due to biodiversity loss, ocean pollution, and lack of access to clean water. The Foundation focuses on three areas of impact, including creating cleaner oceans, improving life on our planet, and providing access to water. As part of its efforts to improve life on our planet, the MAS Foundation for Change has identified mangrove restoration as an important step towards improving biological diversity in coastal areas, as marine life breeds among the trees’ roots.

Speaking on this partnership, Director of the MAS Foundation for Change, Sharika Senanayake said, “The MAS Foundation for Change is thrilled to be working with Adore Me on this mangrove restoration initiative. Mangroves are a critical component of enhancing coastal ecosystems, as they support marine life, help protect against natural disasters, store 3-4 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, and provide livelihoods to coastal communities. This partnership supports the Foundation’s goals by restoring mangroves across 2.5 hectares of deforested land in the Trincomalee district in Sri Lanka. We are grateful for Adore Me’s continued support of the MAS Foundation for Change’s work to create a positive impact on our planet.”

“Mangroves are the nurseries of the sea, protecting against natural disasters and providing livelihood—but mangroves in Sri Lanka have been destroyed by pollution, tourism, and farming. By partnering with MAS Foundation for Change, we – at Adore Me – sponsor the replantation of over 2,500 mangrove seedlings in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province” said Alix Coucardon, VP Brand & Consumer Insights at Adore Me.

In 2019, Adore Me embarked on a company-wide transformation to incorporate sustainability into every corner of its operations including the formal launch of the Adore Me Cares program, the publication of its first ESG Report in July of 2022, and achievement of B Corp Certification in September 2022.

The mangrove restoration project will continue until December 2025. The first phase includes establishing an onsite temporary mangrove nursery, measuring land using GPS technology, preparing land, manually transporting plants to the site, and planting seedlings. The maintenance phase will involve replanting and maintaining the seedlings annually for three years. A bi-annual project assessment will also be conducted to measure the survival rate of the plants.

To complete this project, the MAS Foundation has partnered with the Department of Forest Conservation and will further enlist the support of Jaffna University and Eastern University of Sri Lanka to facilitate research projects to measure impact. These projects will include an annual biodiversity survey and the calculation of carbon sequestration.

Adore Me’s contribution to the project is another reflect of the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. By partnering with MAS Foundation for Change, Adore Me hopes to raise awareness about the importance of preserving and restoring mangrove forests in Sri Lanka and around the world.

For more information on the mangrove restoration project in Sri Lanka, please contact the MAS Foundation for Change.

April 21, 2023

Samson & Sons (Private) Limited, widely known as DSI, is a leading homegrown brand and manufacturer of footwear, apparel and bicycle tyres across the country and has established a strong reputation for quality products in Sri Lanka since its inception. In 2006, DSI launched ‘AVI’, a local sportswear brand and, owing to its tremendous success, goodwill and reputation, in 2022, an AVI exclusive brand outlet was opened in Colombo 07.

Action was filed in the Commercial High Court of Colombo by DSI through their lawyer Sudath Perera Associates, against an entity operating an e-commerce business on Facebook and Instagram under a purported name of “AVI_Clothing”. The action was filed for the infringement of DSI’s AVI trademark and brand on the basis of unfair competition and passing-off.

On 27^th March 2023 the Commercial High Court Judge Priyantha Fernando, issued an enjoining order against the Defendant, AVI_Clothing, for engaging in the business of selling clothing with a brand name identical or confusingly similar to the AVI trademark and brand.

The Plaintiff, DSI, pleaded that the Defendant has copied the mark “AVI” belonging to the Plaintiff in a phonetically and visually similar manner with the deliberate intention of passing of its products as those of the Plaintiff.

The Plaintiff further pleaded that the slight insignificant changes in the impugned mark used by the Defendant are unnoticeable to the average consumers and deliberately adopted with the mala fide intention of the Defendant to usurp the goodwill and reputation of the Plaintiff’s AVI trademark.

The Commercial High Court having heard the submissions of the Lead Counsel for the Plaintiff issued an enjoining order as prayed for by the Plaintiff restraining the Defendant from continuing to use the name/sign/ mark “AVI” or any other variation thereof and from carrying out the business under the trade name “AVI_Clothing” and any other variation thereof and using any other trade name or trademark confusingly similar to Plaintiff’s trade name or trademark. Furthermore, notice was issued on the Defendant to appear in Court on 10^th April 2023.

Attorneys-at-law Mr. Manoj Bandara and Ms. Nayomi Chethana, instructed by Sudath Perera Associates, appeared for D. Samson & Sons (Private) Limited. (DSI)

March 31, 2023

Tesco reiterates confidence on SL’s apparel sourcing amid obstacles

Says Sri Lanka will remain a significant sourcing destination for the retail giant
Notes that the country must leverage on its strategic and accessible location
It will be essential to promote Sri Lanka as a potential investment destination

30^th March 2023: In the late 1990s, global retail giant and Britain’s largest retail chain Tesco sought to establish its apparel sourcing for its own apparel brand from Sri Lanka. Formally setting up the Sri Lankan sourcing office in 2001, the company started working with a number of manufacturers and suppliers who have become crucial to the success and standards of its ‘F&F’ clothing brand.

Over the years, Tesco has curated a fruitful working relationship with most of its local sourcing partners. In addition to the business generated through their agreements, the company also works to empower and uplift its sourcing partners and their workforce through special programs and initiatives.

“Sri Lanka is, and will remain a significant sourcing destination for Tesco. We are proud of the partners we have been working with thus far, and we will continue to partner them as we move forward as well,” states Azmina Kareem, General Manager for Tesco.

Kareem, who is also the Vice Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Apparel Sourcing Association, enthusiastically expressed her confidence in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and the success of end-to-end operations albeit the challenges the country has faced over the last two decades.

When Tesco initially entered the Sri Lankan market, the country was in the midst of a 20 year civil war, which continued for almost a decade, ending in 2009. This was followed by the pandemic in 2020, which drastically slowed down and sometimes halted operations across all industries in the country. And in the last year it was the economic and political crisis which has led to social unrest.

Despite it all, most international businesses continued to operate and fulfil their requirements while continuing to contribute towards the country’s economic recovery by enabling local manufacturers and suppliers to keep their businesses afloat.

In the apparel sector alone, it seemed that “the industry was essentially protected despite the ongoing adversities, as industry associations such as the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) and the apparel industry as a whole supported the workforce to ensure that manufacturing continues,” notes Kareem.

“During the periods of crisis, the impacts on our shipments and sourcing activities were minimal, and I would also say that we had some of the best service levels during this time because labour was constant, and this was recognized by Tesco, despite opposing views being put out by media and other platforms. Undoubtedly, Tesco feels optimistic and strong about Sri Lanka’s apparel sector”

Meanwhile, Kareem went on to note that “Promoting Sri Lanka to potential investors would be important as the country’s strategic location alone provides a vast opportunity to promote and attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) which are critical, and will become a massive advantage for Sri Lanka.

On an international level, although Sri Lanka is equipped with the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) in the UK and the European Union (EU), the GSP to the UK will be replaced with the Developing Country Tariff Scheme (DCTS) in December of 2023.

Most brands such as Tesco itself rely on Free-Trade Agreements (FTAs) such as this with countries such as Sri Lanka, for cost-effective sourcing and logistics. This high level of efficiency, coupled with the highly skilled workforce, has increased the dependency for raw material supplies from countries like Sri Lanka, for global brands like Tesco.

“There are so many advantages to sourcing in Sri Lanka, which are globally recognized. The resilient nature of Sri Lankans, to stand strong amidst challenging times, given the country a reputation as one of the most reliable manufacturing and sourcing regions in the world, even pioneering ethical sourcing,” Kareem said.

“We work with a supplier base that has high standards ethically and technically conforming to the compliance the brand expects. Further investments are being made for sustainability and ESG improvements across the supply base. Suppliers are actively investing further on technology and improving their operational efficiencies. But more importantly, it’s the approach to upskilling and uplifting their workforce and communities. This is what sourcing in Sri Lanka also means to us. It’s world-class.”

March 7, 2023

Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 2023 – Star Garments Group, a leading global apparel manufacturer headquartered in Sri Lanka extended its support to the country’s Blue Carbon stock restoration. Via the signing of an MOU with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, Star to naturally regenerate mangroves across 3 hectares of land, located at Anawilundawa Ramsar wetland on March 1, 2023, in commemoration of ‘World Seagrass Day’.

During the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in London in 2018, the importance of preserving our nation’s mangroves became apparent, especially at a time when Sri Lanka is ranked as No. 2 in the Global Climate Risk Index. With Sri Lanka’s affirmed commitment to champion the Mangrove Ecosystems and Livelihoods Action Group (MELAG) of the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

Referred to as “Blue forests” coastal and marine ecosystems consisting of mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and tidal salt marshes are some of the most efficient carbon sequestration tools found in nature. They can store up to ten times more CO2 per unit area than tropical rainforests, making them a powerful weapon against global warming and climate. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a Sri Lanka-sponsored resolution to declare March 1st (as of 2023) as ‘World Seagrass Day’

In partnership with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the University of Wayamba, Star’s collaboration was a seamless match as the company is the largest in Sri Lanka to have achieved Carbon Neutral status and the only apparel manufacturer with a complete group of factories to have done so. The natural mangroves regeneration project at Anawilundawa Ramsar wetland marks Star Garments Group‘s first step in its journey towards biodiversity restoration of at least 50% of its physical footprint.

Speaking on the initiative Jeevith Senaratne, Director of Operations Star Garments Group stated: “When we looked into the Star Garments Group factories/ Offices, we figured out that the land acquired to build would have been a vegetation area at some stage. Star currently operates on approximately 40 acres of land In Sri Lanka. Thus, operating with the intention of restoring the biodiversity loss due to our operations, we are looking at partnering on impactful biodiversity restoration projects.”

Deforestation continues in Sri Lanka at a rate of 8,000 hectares of forest area per year and by 2030 there will be only 10% of the world’s rainforests left. Sri Lanka’s current mangrove cover, estimated to be 15,000-19,000 Hectares, is a mere 0.3% of the total landmass and is critically low. Mangroves are an integral part of our forests and constitute about 2% of Sri Lanka’s total forest cover. Sri Lanka is fast losing mangroves, due to multiple, interconnected threats like the construction of shrimp farms, salterns, indiscriminate cutting, inorganic ions from agriculture, organic compounds from untreated sewage disposal, illegal constructions, urbanization and tourism.

Concluding, Senaratne noted: “Most importantly mangroves can fight climate change. Due to their ability to absorb carbon, mangrove forests are known as ‘carbon sinks’ or ‘carbon-rich biomes’. By storing excess carbon, they help reduce global warming as there is less carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere, and is globally highlighted as a prime need for conserving mangroves. These natural ecosystems also play a key role in the country’s coastal protection and provides protection from storm surges and catastrophic events like floods & tsunamis. Not only this, but mangrove ecosystems also provide sustainable livelihoods for many rural communities.”

In line with the purpose of its mother company Komar; “One Reputation, Real Values”, Star Strives to be an Icon of sustainability. Star Garments Group has been benchmarked against several global platforms, and its Innovation Center, located in Katunayake, Sri Lanka is the first passive house building in Southeast Asia and leverages a rigorous set of design principles focused on energy efficiency. As Sri Lanka’s largest carbon-neutral entity and the only apparel manufacturer to have all its facilities certified as carbon-neutral, Star also plays host to 7 LEED certified facilities of which 2 are certified as LEED platinum, 3 as LEED Gold, and 2 as LEED Silver, continuously performing in accordance with the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) of Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) since 2017, achieving drastic improvements, which is evident from its 75%+ score in 2021.

February 27, 2023

27th February 2023, Colombo: Norfund, the Norwegian government’s investment fund, with a mission to support sustainably driven business operations in developing countries, recently signed a USD 14 million financing agreement with Hela Apparel Holdings PLC to bolster the development of its manufacturing operations in East Africa. NDB Investment Bank Limited acted as the Financial Advisor for the transaction.

The official announcement was made in the presence of His Excellency Gunnar Andreas Holm – Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya, Tellef Thorleifsson – CEO of Norfund, William Nyaoke – Norfund’s Regional Director for East Africa, Nishantha Mohottige – Country Director for Hela Kenya and Rukshan Aponso – Vice President of Corporate Advisory for NDB Investment Bank Limited, at an event held at Hela’s manufacturing facility in Kenya on the 24^th of February 2023.

Hela Kenya, established in 2016, is the largest manufacturing facility within the Hela Group and employs over 4,000 people. The facility is also one of the largest of its kind in Kenya, and currently produces approximately 20% of the country’s total apparel exports. Hela was the first major Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer to establish operations in Kenya and has played a leading role in the rapid growth of the industry across the continent over recent years, with the subsequent establishment of manufacturing locations in Ethiopia and Egypt.

“Our expansion to Africa has been a rewarding venture, and we continue to see many opportunities within the region for further development,” said A.R Rasiah, Chairman of Hela Apparel Holdings. “Given the increasingly unpredictable global environment, establishing long-term financing relationships with strategic partners who share our vision for Africa as a global apparel sourcing hub plays a critical role in ensuring the envisioned plans for growth are realized. Hela’s African operations provide livelihoods to thousands of people, and our continued growth as a manufacturer will help us continue to strengthen and empower many communities across the globe. The intended investment in our Kenyan manufacturing facility, which will be supported by this lending from Norfund, is a key part of the Group’s strategy to remain globally competitive. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Norfund for their partnership and support towards the organisation’s vision.” He further added.

The proceeds from Norfund’s investment will also be utilized to strengthen Hela’s strategic supply chain partnerships in East Africa. This will enable Hela to leverage regional sourcing from Kenya and Tanzania to a larger extent, providing significant cost and lead time advantages for manufacturing in the region. A potential supply chain investment is also being considered by Hela for the proceeds. Proposed Capex investments within the Kenyan manufacturing facility on process automation will enhance productivity and place the facility in a more competitive position within the region.

“We see great opportunities in contributing to large-scale job creation in East Africa by investing in the apparel and textile industry, in line with our goal of building sustainable businesses to combat poverty. We have been impressed with what Hela has already delivered through its investments in East Africa and are confident that this partnership will go a long way in helping Hela create more employment opportunities primarily for low-skilled women and those vulnerable in society who struggle to find such opportunities.

We look forward to a fruitful partnership in the years to come”, says William Nyaoke, Norfund’s Regional Director for East Africa.

“Norfund is one of the largest shareholders of our ultimate parent, NDB Bank, and our relationship with them has been a very successful one indeed, and this transaction was no exception”, stated Darshan Perera, Chief Executive Officer of NDBIB. “The wealth of knowledge gained by our prior dealings with Norfund and other DFIs enabled us to successfully execute this transaction, which is Hela’s first fundraising via a DFI. We are extremely pleased to have advised Hela in our debut transaction in the African Region and look forward to working with them in realizing their plans in Africa.” He further stated.

February 15, 2023

14^th February 2023, Colombo: Hela Apparel Holdings PLC navigated an exceptionally challenging global operating environment during the third quarter of FY 2022/23. While the Group’s quarterly revenue of Rs. 21.8 Bn represented a 44.8% increase compared to the same period of the previous year, this primarily reflected the impact of the rupee’s depreciation during this interval. In US Dollar terms, the Hela Group reported a decline in revenue of 19.7% year-on-year, as a result of the marked downturn in consumer demand in its key export markets and elevated inventory levels among major global apparel brands.

The adverse operating conditions in the Group’s major export markets in Europe and North America also weighed heavily on profit margins, despite proactive cost reduction measures being taken during the quarter. The significant drop in export sales contributed to a 370 basis point year-on-year contraction in the Group’s gross profit margin to 10.0%, as capacity utilisation rates decreased across its global network of manufacturing facilities. A rise in finance costs as a result of increased interest rates, as well as the hike in corporate tax rates, were also significant drags on profitability. As a result, the Hela Group recorded a post-tax loss of Rs. 1.7 Bn in the third quarter.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the Group’s balance sheet remained in a robust position at the close of the third quarter. The Net-Debt-to-Equity ratio stood at 1.8 at the end of December 2022, compared to 3.8 during the same period of the previous year.

In a statement accompanying the financial results, the Company identified tentative signs of stabilisation in the economic outlook for its key markets. It cited the declines in inflation rates recorded in recent months across Europe and North America, as well as the ongoing strength of labour markets in these economies, as indicators of a more resilient outlook for consumer spending. Nonetheless, it struck a cautious tone and emphasized the need to remain agile in the evolving operating environment to ensure a return to profitability in the short term. It also highlighted the management team’s confidence in the strength of the company’s value proposition, underpinned by its competitive global manufacturing footprint and strategic customer relationships, as positioning it well to take advantage of a future recovery in demand.

Hela Apparel Holdings PLC is a social capital-focused company built on the principles of inclusivity, equality, and climate stability. With over three decades of industry experience, Hela focuses on building strategic partnerships with global brands to provide apparel supply chain solutions with distinctive advantages. The organisation has a global presence with 10 manufacturing facilities across Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt, as well as design centres in Sri Lanka, the US, the UK, and France, providing direct employment to over 20,000 people. Innovative, ethical, and sustainable apparel manufacturing is at the centre of Hela’s operations. With numerous accolades for sustainability, the organization was recently endorsed as a signatory to the UN Global Compact and was awarded the ISO 14064-1:2018 certification for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions across the Group.

February 2, 2023

February 1^st, 2023: MAS Holdings, South Asia’s largest apparel tech manufacturer, has once again partnered with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as the official clothing sponsor for the women’s cricket team for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, scheduled to be held in South Africa in February.

MAS first started making jerseys for the women’s cricket team in 2007-2008 and has held the title of official clothing sponsor for the team for over a decade since 2012. Over the years, MAS has continued to support women’s cricket and female cricketers in Sri Lanka and was named the team sponsor for the women’s cricket team between 2008 and 2010.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Marketing and Business Development Director at MAS Active, Amrah Akbar said, “Over the years, we have maintained a strong partnership with SLC, introducing new and improved products that meet the changing requirements of the teams. It is indeed a privilege to support our national women’s cricket team once again, providing them with advanced performance wear, made using the same innovative features and technology we do for the men’s jerseys.”

The jersey is designed and developed at MAS Active (Pvt) Ltd., where body mapping technology is used to identify heat and perspiration zones in the human body. Based on this research, the material is engineered with variable levels of ventilation and high absorbency. The material is developed to suit the environmental conditions of the playing field including the temperature and weather patterns in South Africa, to prevent discomfort during the game and elevate the player’s performance. This is enabled through wicking and moisture management technologies applied to lightweight, stretchable, breathable fabric, that are tailored to maintain the right fit and comfort.

“We are truly excited and wish the best of luck to our women’s team. It is an honour to support them on their journey to victory,” added Amrah Akbar. Further, stressing the importance of what this means for women in Sri Lanka, Director Corporate Affair at MAS, Rajitha Jayasuriya said, “empowering women whether on the production floor or in other diverse professions is a continuous effort we make. We hope to encourage young girls and women to discover their potential in these fields.”

Commenting on MAS’ overall support for Sri Lanka’s national sporting teams, Rajitha Jayasuriya added “Through our initiatives in supporting sports, we have been able to offer support for Sri Lanka’s female Paralympians and our female athletes training for the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

November 23, 2022

23 November 2022, Colombo: The Sustainability Summit for 2022 hosted by Brandix Apparel Ltd. Encompassing varied aspects of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) was held on Tuesday 22nd November. The Summit covered covering the pressing issues that faced the world today, with a specific focus on the urgent need to give equal importance to all aspects of the triple bottom line – People, Planet and Profit. Hosted as a hybrid event, with virtual participants and a physical event at Brandix Essentials Ltd, Ratmalana, the Summit brought together an audience of business leaders, government representatives, NGOs, and others interested in this timely subject.

The sustainability journey of Brandix, commencing in 2007, has seen significant milestones been reached, and include the plant in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka being recognised as the world’s first Net Zero Carbon Apparel Manufacturing facility in 2019. This was not the first time the company broke new ground – In 2008, it’s factory in Seeduwa, Sri Lanka became the World’s first LEED Platinum certified facility under the World Green Building Council, and today the Group has multiple other LEED certified facilities across Sri Lanka and India. A significant depiction of this commitment is the company’s pledge to be Net Zero Carbon across all manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka by 2023, and all facilities in India by 2025.

This year’s panel of international speakers included Claire Kells, Senior Manager Corporate Engagement – UN Global Compact, who spoke of her organisation’s work in the areas of promoting best practices and offering methodologies to effectively track results, through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Global Compact’s ESG principles. Ruby Ojha, Senior Environmental and Social Development Specialist – International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, shared insights on ESG for Sustainability, an overview of IFC Performance Standards and IFC’s initiatives relevant to Ready Made Garment Sector. The final of the international speakers, Tejas Sampat, Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility (SA) and Global Sustainability (Offshore) – PVH Corp. shared his views on how the fashion industry is changing and the opportunity to drive fashion forward for the good of all. Each speaker reinforced the summit’s objective of the need to act now, and to couple global know-how with local solutions.

From hosts Brandix, two panellists, namely Akila Fernando – Deputy General Manager, Group Engineering and Vinura Jayewardene, Group Sustainability Engineer, took the audience through the company’s own sustainability journey spanning a decade and a half, and anchored to the pillars of Air, Water and Earth.

“Brandix also works with the objective to make each location where it establishes its facilities, a better place than it was when the company arrived, through enhancing the living conditions and wellbeing of the community,” said Vinura Jayewardene, Group Sustainability Engineer, Brandix Apparel Limited. He elaborated that in Sri Lanka, its flagship initiative of Water Projects has provided access to clean water for drinking and household needs to over a quarter of a million people, whilst in India free eye camps screen patients and extend medical support and spectacles, with over 35,000 beneficiaries to date.

With attendance figures for this year’s summit once again exceeding the 1,000s, Brandix is humbled to have had the opportunity to bring together a global community of like-minded participants who strive to make an impact on the environment and society. Brandix hopes that this summit is yet another step that will inspire more organisations and individuals to join hands and move from commitments to immediate actions, to unlock the true power of sustainable growth.

November 9, 2022

Brandix-Corporate-Campus-launches-flagship-Advanced-Diploma-in-Fashion-Apparel-Textiles-LBN.jpg

November 2022, Colombo: Brandix Corporate Campus (BCC), a subsidiary of Brandix Lanka Limited, recently announced the launch of its flagship Advanced Diploma in Fashion, Apparel & Textiles. Adding to its growing list of pioneering clothing technology courses offered to those interested in becoming professionals in the apparel industry, this new Advanced Diploma has been positioned to become the gateway for budding and dynamic individuals who seeks to build a career in the booming apparel industry of Sri Lanka and the world. The programme itself has been created by the most proficient members in the industry who have gained exposure to the best innovative and global practices. This team of professionals will use their expertise to ensure that the programme keeps up with new industry developments.

Extending an open invitation to anyone who is interested to join the programme, BCC accepts individuals of all ages who have two A-Level passes, regardless of their educational background. Two years of dynamic and contemporary learning, split between full time participation during the 1st academic year and part time participation in the 2nd academic year, will result in the Advanced Diploma covering over 22 carefully curated modules, giving students a comprehensive understanding of the apparel industry.

BCC students will have access to first-hand information and insights on the direction of the entire apparel industry as a result of its involvement with BCC’s parent company, Brandix Lanka Limited. The two parties recently signed an MoU to this effect, and as a result, students will benefit from sought after practical knowledge offered by no other entity delivered via 44-weeks of in-plant training. Students will be rotated across various areas throughout many factories, providing an overall understanding of the apparel value chain. Such priceless exposure will certainly go a long way in shaping the way one would look at their future career in this promising industry.

Setting itself apart from other institutes who offer similar programmes, BCC’s Advanced Diploma gives students the competitive edge as they are guaranteed unmatched inspired internships at Brandix, featuring cross functional and multi product exposure and value additions with access to top industry professionals and global customers, subject to conditions. BCC’s programme is by far the only one in the market which offers students an internship opportunity as sought after as this. This sought after internship will then pave the way for full time job opportunities, based on performance.

Priced at an affordable fee of Rs. 665,000/- for the entire course of study, students are also presented with the unique opportunity to recover up to 45% of the course fee during the 12 month internship period which every student is entitled to. The intake for the Advanced Diploma commencing on the 21st of November 2022 is currently live, and BCC is seeking great talent to apply so that they may become the future leaders of the apparel industry. Such persons are encouraged to call or WhatsApp 077 044 4401 for more information.

Since 1996, BCC has been offering pioneering clothing technology courses which have created skilled and proficient professionals who now stand amongst the best in the industry. BCC believes in providing their students with a ‘Gateway to a Career in the Apparel Industry,’ and to that end, they offer over 100 specialised technical courses ranging from fabric technology to merchandising, advanced pattern-making, production management, sewing machinery skills, and so on.

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Hirdaramani Apparel continues to showcase its commitment to sustainable manufacturing with the release of its latest Group Sustainability Report

MAS Foundation for Change partners with Adore Me on Mangrove Restoration

DSI obtains enjoining order against infringement of its AVI Brand

Tesco reiterates confidence on SL’s apparel sourcing amid obstacles

Star to power Sri Lanka’s Blue Carbon Stock Restoration

Norfund To Support the Development of Hela Apparel Holdings’ East African Manufacturing Operations with an Investment of USD 14 Million

Hela Apparel Holdings Navigates an Exceptionally Challenging Operating Environment During the Third Quarter of FY 2022/23

MAS partners SLC as official clothing sponsor for 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

Brandix Sustainability Summit concludes successfully for second consecutive year

Brandix Corporate Campus launches flagship Advanced Diploma in Fashion, Apparel & Textiles