Brandix India Apparel City Vizag - The New Frontier of Global Apparel Manufacturing

Brandix Lanka Limited is taking the South Asian garment industry to a new frontier by setting up ‘Brandix India Apparel City’ (BIAC) in Andhra Pradesh, India. BIAC will be an integrated apparel supply chain city, which will be managed by Brandix.
 
Brandix is Sri Lanka’s largest exporter with an annual consolidated group turnover of over USD 280 million. The Group’s command of its supply chain in both woven and knits is its key strength; this includes Apparel Manufacturing and Finishing, Design and Development, Fabric and Accessories including thread, buttons and hangers. This has been facilitated via strategic acquisitions, joint-ventures and investments linked to its core-business of apparel manufacturing and leveraging on vendor partnerships. Accordingly, today, Brandix is the preferred apparel solutions provider for prestigious brands such as Gap, M&S, Victoria’s Secret, NEXT and Abercrombie & Fitch, which is in line with its vision ‘to be the inspired solution for branded clothing’.. 

The potential of India - one of the fastest growing economies of the world, its ability to offer scale advantages and other strong business fundamentals makes it an ideal platform to leverage the industry expertise of a 30 year old organisation. In addition to the expertise Brandix brings to the development of BIAC, it invites experts in apparel manufacturing and related services from across the world to set up operations within the park. As a vertically integrated operation it is envisaged that investors will benefit from being able to rely on global expertise to fulfil its designing, manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, technology and training requirements, all under one roof. Given the dynamics of the Apparel industry, the key value propositions demanded by the market revolve around least cost, speed to market, flexibility & assurance of compliance. Hence BIAC is based on providing a value advantage (based on speed, flexibility & assurance of compliance) & a cost advantage to the market.  In addition the BIAC will also be a duty free enclave treated as a foreign territory.

By Brandix setting up technological infrastructure of the highest calibre and building on its own experience, it aims to make India the next big manufacturing hub for the South Asian garment industry. In support of which the Indian Ministry of Commerce has granted BIAC the status of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Brandix has a long standing tradition of commitment to education and Human Resources development. Anticipating the need and the mounting requirements of the apparel industry in 1997, Brandix set up the Brandix College of Clothing Technology in Sri Lanka. Brandix continues this tradition in India and in Mid-August began the recruitment and training process of a group of 200 female employees, working in collaboration with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Visakhapatnam, a governmental organisation that primarily works with private organisations to uplift the livelihoods of communities in the area. The 18,000 square feet training facility is based outside the zone in Pendurthi, Visakhapatnam. After signing the land lease agreement on June 2006, Brandix took the initiative to set up an Apparel Manufacturing unit in a temporary location in Vizag This batch of trainees will commence commercial production in that unit by January 2007. This demonstrates Brandix’s commitment towards this project to make Vizag an Apparel and Textile hub in India

Brandix is aggressively marketing the Vizag city and already brought renowned partners like Brandot, Sara Lee, Fountain Set, Crystal Group to visit the site .The BIAC project has generated a substantial amount of potential business opportunities. Hayley’s Advantis visited the site as a potential logistics and warehousing service provider. Yamato, a machine supplier has agreed to establish a machine service centre in Vizag. This is a good example as to how this apparel park will create mutual symbiotic relationships within the South Asian garment industry

Brandix facilities in Sri Lanka comply with global standards and practices that go beyond the requirements of its stakeholders. The company is also a member of the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) Certification Programme and firmly adheres to its principles, ensuring that apparel is produced under lawful, humane and ethical conditions. It also follows SA 8000 social accountability standards and was recently awarded the Occupational Safety & Health Assessment Series (OSHAS): 18001:1999, an accreditation that encourages continuous improvement in workplace health and safety. This is in addition to its investment in Greener Production Techniques, Waste reduction, Waste water management and energy saving initiatives. Best practices that will be extended to its operations in India, through its training and other initiatives, which will enrich the lives of its employees and communities in which it operates, as it moves into the next frontier in apparel manufacturing.   

27th September, 2006