COLOMBO: Eight leading companies will be representing Sri Lanka at Apparel Sourcing Paris, Europe’s leading sourcing trade fair, which will be held in Le Bourget, Paris from 17 – 20 September 2018, according to the Export Development Board (EDB).
The Sri Lankan pavilion at the expo is being organised by EDB in collaboration with the Sri Lankan embassy in France, and will feature a ‘Sri Lankan Catwalk’ activity to showcase products of the participating companies from the apparel and fashion industries, including designer clothing made out of handloom and batik to give a true Sri Lankan flavor.
This year, Apparel Sourcing Paris has attracted more than 600 exhibitors from all over the world, offering a wide and consistent supplying possibilities for clothing: knitwear, casualwear, sportswear, outerwear, corporate wear, children wear and fashion accessories. The event is open for strong marketing and networking opportunities to all the exhibitors and presents a wide variety of collection to the visitors.
The presence of a “Small Order Itinerary”, which lists the exhibitors, who can sell small quantities to designers is an excellent asset for small brands and capsule collections. The event will also feature around 50 garment suppliers certified ecofriendly and sustainable, while visitors can also discover the trends of tomorrow for a sourcing closer to fashion.
The Sri Lankan exhibitors at this year’s Apparel Sourcing Paris are Stylish Garments (Pvt) Ltd, EL Holding (Pvt) Ltd, JIA Moda (Pvt) Ltd, Bernard Botejue Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Kuga Holding Pvt Ltd, Screenline Private Limited, Buddhi Batiks & Handicrafts Ltd, and Conscience Design Pvt. Ltd.
The apparel export industry is Sri Lanka’s primary foreign exchange earner and the most significant contributor to the island nation’s economy.
In 2017, Sri Lanka’s apparel exports grew by 3.06 % compared with that of 2016, with the value of Sri Lanka’s total apparel exports reaching a record high of USD 4.818 billion in 2017 from USD 4.67 billion in 2016. 45 % of Sri Lanka’s apparel products were exported to the United States and 42 % to the markets in the European Union.
With the industry enjoying epic growth levels over the past four decades, figures published by EDB show that the apparel industry today accounts for 40% of total exports and 52% of industrial products exports.
EDB is the official entity for the promotion and development of exports with their main goal being to provide assistance and create opportunities for Sri Lankan companies to expand their business internationally.
