For the first time in Sri Lanka’s apparel history, the Export Development Board has directly linked top Lankan apparel suppliers with the world’s largest textile retailer, Spain’s ZARA and is stepping up its support for apparel market diversification.
“Though the Lankan apparel sector caters to many international brands, we have still not been able to manufacture to Zara brand, the world largest fashion retailer.
This successful effort directly linked our apparels to Zara for the first time,” said Chitranjali Dissanayake (Director-Industrial Products of SLEDB).
Dissanayake was reporting on the success of first ever Lankan apparel industry delegation to Spain’s Inditex, recently. Inditex ranks as the world’s largest textile retailer by sales, and is present in 87 countries.It owns such international retail brands as Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterqe.
“Inditex is commonly known by its oldest and biggest brand, Zara. Though Lankan apparel sector caters to many international brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Marks & Spencer we have still not been able to manufacture to Zara brand, the world largest fashion retailer” said EDB Director Dissanayake, and added: “As a result of the Lankan industry leaders showing a keen interest to develop business contacts with Spain’s Inditex and to manufacture apparel in Sri Lanka for its ZARA Brand, the EDB promptly initiated a dialogue with Spain’s Inditex Inditex for an initial meeting with a Lankan delegation to present the country’s capabilities and invite Inditex SA to source from Sri Lanka.
