Apparel industry moving towards non-woven fabrics - Prof. Fernando

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

APPAREL MARKET: The apparel industry is in need of sustainable solutions to meet its technology needs to remain competitive since the world is moving towards non-woven fabrics.

This move would hit the Sri Lankan apparel industry soon, Head of the Sri Lanka Apparel Institute Prof. Lakdas Fernando said.

Prof. Fernando said ready-made garments are Sri Lanka's biggest export,accounting for half of national exports and over 60 per cent of industrial exports. In 2005 earnings from apparel and made-ups came to over US $ 2.7 billion.

However, he pointed out that the domestic investment in technology development, and R and D is low and it is very important that the industry gets the right kind of technology infusion at the right time.

Prof. Fernando said the Apparel Industry Suppliers Exhibition which will be held in Colombo from November 9 to 11 in Colombo will showcase the latest technology developments in the readymade garment industry ,exposing local manufacturers to global trends.

"The best alternative for industry sustainability in the long term is to sell ourselves better. Even India, until recently did not see Sri Lanka as a large apparel export industry that imports huge amounts of textiles as the country has not marketed to the export industry", he said.

Although Sri Lanka's European market is Britain it has not been so successful in France and Germany which are much bigger markets. Referring to low backward integration affecting the Sri Lankan garment industry, Fernando said Sri Lanka has still not been able to invest on woven fabrics which will help the local industry.