Garment Industry in Sri Lanka Challenges, Prospects

Sri Lanka’s apparel export industry is the most significant and dynamic contributor for Sri Lanka’s economy. The industry has grown over the last three decades and has become the number one foreign exchange earner and the largest single employer in the manufacturing industry. The industry provides direct employment opportunities to over 300,000 and 600,000 indirectly which includes a substantial number of women in Sri Lanka.
This industry, virtually entirely privately owned has successfully exploited the opportunities the international market. Further, the co-operation between the Government and the private sector was a significant factor contributing to the spurt in apparel exports.
Today, the garment industry occupies a pre-eminent position in Sri Lanka, producing high quality garments combined with an industry which is flexible and uniquely capable in servicing leading international brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Liz Claiborne, Next, Jones New York, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Pink, Triumph, Ann Taylor, Speedo, Abercrombie & Fitch, Land’s End, Marks & Spencer, Intimmissimi, etc.
A wide range of apparel for men, women, girls, boys, children and babies in the categories of fashion-wear, sportwear, lingeries, work-wear, rain-wear, swim-wear is manufactured and exported with the flexibility of catering to the specific seasons to many countries around the world. USA and UK are the top markets for Sri Lankan apparel through out the decades.
The industry has been positioned as a socially responsible and preferred destination for apparel sourcing. Sri Lanka is also the only outsourced apparel manufacturing country in Asia which has ratified all 27 International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. It stands out as a reliable source that pays fair wages to its workers while discouraging sweatshops and child labour in its businesses
Long term relationships with large reputed retailers who have identified standards of manufacture and compliance have also established this focus on ethical manufacture and an approach to Corporate Social Responsibility that responds and caters to the needs and concerns of a diverse set of stakeholders. The association with global brands of international repute has not been a mere business transaction but an exercise in maximizing value of wealth creation for society.
Sri Lanka also has an excellent reputation for abiding by the regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Sri Lanka does not subsidize or provide export rebate. Complaints of anti dumping or countervailing duties have not been made against Sri Lanka
On the environmental issues, Sri Lanka Apparel supports many initiatives focused on minimizing its impact on nature. Every effort is being made to create sustainable growth by protecting the environment, both at the workplace and in the community. International standards of recycling, effluent treatment and waste management practices are followed to run the operations at optimum environmental efficiency.
Sri Lankan garment industry is now progressively moving towards the ‘fashion’ industry from a purely manufacturing industry. The team of designers and technical experts being mindful of the fast changing trends in modern designs, use the latest technology in the production of finely tailored and customize products in high volume.
Sri Lanka having established itself as a reliable supplier of quality garments at competitive prices, also upholds ethical practices, thus being identified as a producer of “Garments Without Guilt’, making the “Made in Sri Lanka, label synonymous with quality, reliability, social and environmental accountability.
With an impressive partnership portfolio, Sri Lanka also showcases the best of technology in the garment industry, including the world’s first eco-friendly “Green Garment Factory”.
The buyers placing orders have the choice of selecting fabric and accessories from any part of the world to be brought to Sri Lanka for conversion into finished apparel. There is also an advantage in sourcing from Sri Lanka due to its central location, which provides the shortest shipping times to Europe.
For those who are concerned not only with the quality of the product but also the values of the manufacturers, Sri Lanka will definitely be the ultimate choice.