Friday, October 10, 2008


The Brandix Group’s world-first Platinum rated Green Factory provided a learning experience to apparel sector manufacturers in the region recently when it was chosen by global giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) for a factory visit by several senior apparel sector executives from India, and Bangladesh as well as the United Kingdom.

The visitors led by Marks & Spencer’s ‘Plan A’ Director Richard Gillies along with his Associates Paschal Little and Ian Morris as well as Ravi Seshadri the Regional Head of Technology for M&S South Asia undertook a two hour tour of the Brandix Eco Centre at Seeduwa for a first-hand look at how the plant has been redesigned to achieve global benchmark ratings in energy and water conservation, solid waste management and low carbon emissions.

Represented at the visit were well known apparel sector companies such as Orient Craft, Arvind Mills Limited, Farida Shoes, Crystal Martin, Hela Clothing, CREW BOS, Thomas Kershaw, MMS UK, and Marks & Spencer operations in UK, South Asia and Sri Lanka.

“Brandix takes great pride in its credo of being an inspired solutions provider for branded clothing, and we were very pleased to host several of our peers from the region,” Brandix Director AJ Johnpillai said. “We hope our efforts will be an inspiration to others to seek the highest achievable levels of environment-friendly manufacture.”

The Brandix Green Factory in Seeduwa is the first and only apparel manufacturing facility in the world to be rated Platinum under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The 130,000 square-foot complex is Brandix Casualwear’s lead manufacturing plant for Marks & Spencer, and supports M&S’ ‘Plan A’ a five-year, 100-point 'eco' plan to encourage suppliers around the world to make their supply chains carbon neutral through Green manufacturing processes.

Formally inaugurated on April 25 this year by Marks & Spencer CEO Sir Stuart Rose, the plant converted into an Eco Centre at a cost of US $ 3 million has achieved a reduction of carbon emissions by 80 per cent, an energy saving of 46 per cent, a reduction of water consumption of 58 per cent and zero solid waste to landfill, eco-friendly indicators as yet unmatched by any re-designed Green Plant anywhere in the world.

Brandix pioneered the concept of total solutions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry and has been recognized as Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter by the Export Development Board for the past two years. Comprising of 25 fully-integrated manufacturing facilities backed by strategically located international sourcing offices, the Brandix Group specializes in casual bottoms, intimate and active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread, accessories and hangers, and offers wet processing and finishing and fabric printing. Brandix is a preferred solutions provider to some of the world’s best brands, including Gap, Marks & Spencer, Victoria’s Secret, NEXT, Lands End, Ann Taylor, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Picture shows Ms Aroshi Perera, Head of Risk & Control at Brandix Lanka Limited presenting the sponsorship agreement to Mr Mahinda Madihahewa , Secretary to the Ministry of Labour Relations & Manpower.

The country’s top apparel exporter Brandix, a Group that provides direct employment to more than 25,000 people, has lent its might to make occupational health and safety the focus of attention in Sri Lanka this week, to support the National Safety and Health Week campaign of the Ministry of Labour Relations & Manpower.

As Principal Sponsor of this annual event targeting employers and employees alike, Brandix is supporting a series of events organised to create greater awareness on occupational safety and health in work places across the island, and has encouraged its own associates to participate in these activities, a spokesman for the Group said.

Themed ‘Health & Safety for Happiness of Life,’ the highlights of the campaign are an island-wide poster competition, street dramas that will be enacted at the export processing zones in Biyagama, Katunayake and Avissawella, a Safety Walk at Horana and a National Seminar at the BMICH on Thursday, 9th October.

“Brandix has been at the forefront of efforts to improve safety and health in workplaces,” the Group’s Compliance Manager Dhammika Abeygoonawardhane said. “Our commitment to occupational safety and health has been recognised by many awards at national level, and we are happy to extend this commitment beyond the Group by supporting national campaigns of this nature.”

“It is our hope that wider participation in these events will in time lead to better conditions, processes and practices. There is no greater asset to a business than a happy employee, and workplace safety and health are key contributing elements to a contented work force,” Mr. Abeygoonawardhane added.

Brandix pioneered the concept of total solutions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry and has been recognized as Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter by the Export Development Board for the past two years. Comprising of 25 fully-integrated manufacturing facilities backed by strategically located international sourcing offices, the Brandix Group specializes in casual bottoms, intimate and active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread, accessories and hangers, and offers wet processing and finishing and fabric printing. Brandix is a preferred solutions provider to some of the world’s best brands, including Gap, Marks & Spencer, Victoria’s Secret, NEXT, Lands End, Ann Taylor, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger.