Sri Lanka’s globally significant apparel group Brandix launched its bid to be a globally dominant player in chosen new categories with the commencement of construction of a Rs 280 million central services facility for the Group’s Activewear companies in Sri Lanka and India.

Located at Ratmalana, the 61,000 square foot purpose-designed Brandix Centre of Inspiration – Active, will be the nucleus for the manufacturing operations of Brandix Activewear at Ratmalana and Koggala in Sri Lanka, and those of Brandix Apparel India at Vizag. This centre will support a projected turnover in excess of US$ 200 million.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for this futuristic centre, Brandix CEO Ashroff Omar said the Group’s experience in setting up a similar centralised facility for Brandix Casualwear had paid rich dividends. He said the establishment of a Centre of Inspiration for Brandix Activewear would enable the Group to move to new frontiers and focus on categories where it could be a dominant player on a global scale. Mr. Omar pointed out that Brandix has already set up a phenomenal facility in India for underwear servicing dominant global brands such as Victoria’s Secret, H&M and Hanes.

Udena Wickremesooriya, Director of Brandix Activewear said the Group has achieved a level of operational excellence leading to every single delivery going on time. Brandix’s Activewear business has been built by a team who continuously excel in delivering customer requirements, he said.

Scheduled to be operational in May 2008, the new centre will accommodate a staff of more than 400 and be the centralised hub for all front-end activities of Brandix Activewear and Brandix Apparel India. It will bring together Design, Marketing, Merchandising, Sourcing, Work Study, Sampling, Planning, Warehousing, Cutting, Information Management, Finance and Human Resources for these companies. Key players in the supply chain will be invited to sit alongside Brandix associates enabling them to conceptualise and deliver ‘inspired solutions’ to customers.

The winner of two Presidential Export awards in August 2007, Brandix is ranked as Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter and second largest exporter overall, by the Export Development Board (EDB). Consolidated Group turnover for the year ending March 31, 2007 was US$ 320 million and Brandix is expected to reach its short term revenue target of US$ 500 million, in the near future.