World thread leader Coats Global Marketing Director at South Asian Apparel Forum of SL Design Fest

Coats, which has raised the bar and set industry standards in the area of sewing solutions, has joined hands with Sri Lanka Design Festival to project the many capabilities of the local apparel and fashion industry to the world. In order to share Coats’ global expertise in the apparel vertical integration sector, the company has invited David Goodwin, its Global Marketing Director of Apparel Thread to take part in the festival’s South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum.

This prestigious forum aims to position Sri Lanka apparel as the leader in South Asian apparel industry.

Sri Lanka is well-positioned to become a regional leader in apparel as it offers end-to-end turnkey solutions in the sector.

Coats is a firm believer in local apparel industry’s growing capacity to serve as a knowledge based industry where ‘design’ plays a key role.

It is in this framework, that Coats supports Sri Lanka Design Festival and its South Asian Apparel Forum where the knowledge based creative strength of Sri Lankan apparel is shown to the world.

“Coats has always been a believer of fusing design, innovation and technology to produce unique, high-quality products and services; SL design festival shares the same vision and we’re pleased to support them,” Giles Watkins, Managing Director of Coats Thread in Sri Lanka said. Coats operating in 71 countries, with 73 factories and 94 other facilities globally is the world leader in manufacture and distribution of sewing and embroidery threads and consumer crafts. Coats is also the second largest manufacturer of zips in the world.

Coats invests around US$ 200 million on research, development and product innovation and is a firm supporter of sharing knowledge and creative education.

Therefore, the association with SLDF will also result in a range of fashion workshops sponsored by Coats in November.

Nikihil Hirdaramani, SLDF board member and director of Hirdaramani group said “We’re very positive about SLDF’s positive impact on the apparel industry, and the help received from our backward integration giants like Coats has been tremendous.   The leading manufacturers of SL apparel are behind Coats and design festival in their joint venture to position our industry as the regional leader.”

The partnership will also project Sri Lanka’s industrial and creative potential to leading global markets through Coats’ huge network of international industrial clients that include Victoria Secrets, Marks and Spencer, Nike, Next, ,Tesco, Calzedonia and Decathlon.  Linda Speldewinde, founder of Sri Lanka Design Festival said Coats is one SL design festival 2011’s biggest supporters; “Coats has identified design as the future of the industry, and their support for the South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum makes a hug impact. Coats has also been a genuine supporter of the festival’s craft and sustainable agendas and the Coats team have been wonderfully accommodative from the beginning. We’re glad to have them onboard.”

A full programme of SLDF and registration for the South Asian apparel Leadership Forum is available online at  www.srilankadesignfestival. com or from the festival secretariat at at Academy of Design (AOD), 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 4. For more information call on +94 11 5737303 or visit between 8.30 am – 5.00 pm Monday – Saturday. SLDF is conceptualised and organised by AOD (www.aod.lk) – The Academy of Design; Sri Lanka’s pioneering design campus that offers international creative and design education while serving as a dynamic catalyst of the local creative industries.  SLDF is endorsed by its key stakeholders, Ministry of Economic Development, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau – Endorsement Partner and Sri Lanka Apparel. SLDF is also partnered by Mount Lavinia Hotel – Festival Host, SriLankan Airlines – Official Airline, Textured Jersey – Fabric Partner, Coats – Thread Partner, TradeCard – Software Partner, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics – Freight and logistics partner, Norwegian Embassy – Cultural Partner, British Council – Knowledge Partner.

Other associates include Sparklink Travels, Bates Strategic Alliance PR, Social M!dea, ADDIKT Design Movement, Images Group, CG Hairdressing, MTV/MBC and Fashion TV.