Despite tough challenges that apparel exporters are facing, few of the companies are continuously growing and one such company is Tirupur-based Eastman Exports Global Clothing.
The company recently opened its office in the US and it is also in the process to have offices in the Middle East and UK. The knitted garment giant is also expanding its manufacturing capacity.
The company, completing 40 years, works with more than 30 top brands and retailers like Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Board Riders Group, Decathlon, Balmain and Harley Davidson etc., and it has a turnover of more than US $ 250 million. In the long run, the company also has a plan to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Positive about the overall market conditions, S.Prakash, Whole Time Director of the company told Apparel Resources, “Our US office is mainly a subsidiary office working like a marketing office. The office also has an American designer and one representative from India. We feel that being close to the US, we can convert a lot of customers.”
He further added that despite ups and downs in the market, India has a lot of business opportunities in exports, especially looking at the opportunities that are still growing like the Government’s strong efforts on FTA. This is why the company will open offices in the Middle East and UK.
Mainly offering fashion products in men’s, women’s and kidswear, Eastman has vertically integrated operations and its own domestic brand ‘Hue Trap’ is being synergised in terms of technical know-how, infrastructure and design inputs.
‘Eastman Brands’ vertical of the company, a unique concept to support emerging brands and start-ups, is also strongly marking its presence in the domestic market.
“We are not missing on any front, be it manufacturing, marketing, export or domestic or product category. Though we are a fashion product company catering to top brands and retailers, 3-4 per cent of our total business is coming from underwear exports,” S.Prakash says.
Though many companies of Tirupur, Coimbatore have their manufacturing units in overseas as well as in other Indian states, Eastman strongly believes that there is a lot of potential still to be tapped in India itself – many job opportunities can be created as and when one can add new facilities.
“Land and labour is an integral part of our industry and yes there are few exporters who have moved to other states, but as far as Eastman is concerned, we believe that land and labour are available in our state, we have to do a thorough study on that region and erect the facility accordingly,” confirms S.Prakash.
The company is also strong on the sustainability and CSR front as it has taken many steps for its staff as well as society covering skill development, education and scholarships for employees and their children.
“We have a dedicated manufacturing unit operated by only women and almost 2000 women are part of this unit. It is rare in the Indian apparel industry,” Prakash says proudly.
Founded by N. Chandaran, Eastman Exports is now a 4-decades-old group and it has many feathers in its cap like the company has its first dyeing plant in the region to achieve Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).
