Gokak Textiles Limited (GTL), a leading enterprise engaged in exporting textile goods has plans to venture for launching its own readymade garments under its brand, ‘Fac it’. The company has plans of starting with innerwear for men and children and will introduce its collection by September this year.
An investment of Rs160 crore has been disbursed for use in its factories at Gokak, and Marihal in Belgaum district of Karnataka. The sum was mainly assigned in parts over a period of three years to install additional capacity for meeting the requirements of its new product line.
In an exclusive interview with Fibre2fashion, Mr H S Bhaskar, Managing Director and CEO of GTL stated, “For years we have been supplying fabric to European and American brands. Now, with the increase in our manufacturing capacity, we have plans to launch our own branded garments for the Indian markets. We will initially start by launching undergarments for men, which will be followed by launch of innerwear for women and also readymade trousers and shirts for men.”
When asked about the anticipated response and its current undertakings, Mr Bhaskar confided saying, “During the first year, the company is aiming at a sales of Rs10 crore and Rs100 crore by 2010 and an expected growth of 10-12 percent in 2008-09. Presently, GTL manufactures knitted garments and has set up a fully integrated garment factory at Belgaum and supplies garments to most of the major brands in India like Peter England, John Players, Globus, Pantaloons and international brands like Charles Vougle, Berton, Marks and Spencer, Andrew Sports, Debanhams among others. Besides, Gokak Textiles also launched sweaters under the Campbell brand for both domestic and export markets. It is setting up a new unit at Ludhiana at an investment of Rs 18 crore. It also aims to launch polo shirts and trousers by April 2009.”
One of the most recent business propositions of the company involves talks with Indian armed forces for providing special infra-red camouflage fabric for covering aircraft as well as uniform fabric for the defence personnel. France, Belgium and Spain are few of the immediate beneficiaries of these supplies made by Gokak.
Mr Bhaskar also gave a nod to the information that as a part of its corporate social responsibility, Gokak Textiles would recruit personnel with impaired hearing and speech, providing them with work in its Campbell Knitwear Division.
Plans are still underway to cater training to these physically challenged people for a period of one year. Infact, Gokak gave training to a few personnel last year who are presently working successfully for the company.
