Sri Lanka’s Browns Fabric Ltd has been acquired by knitted fabric manufacturer, Ceylon Knit Trend, a major supplier to leading sportswear brands such as Patagonia. Part of the Hirdaramani Apparel Group, Ceylon Knit Trend has acquired 100% of the business from the Browns Group PLC conglomerate in a Rs.50,000,000 deal. Browns Fabric operates a new, $52 mn, vertically integrated, weft knitting plant in the country’s north western province of Kurunegala.
The company opened the facility in 2023, part of its plan to “bridge a significant vacuum in supply and demand, flexibility and speed to produce fabric to the export-oriented US dollar earning apparel industry in Sri Lanka”.
Sourcing high quality fibres and yarns in collaboration with regional spinning and knitting partners, the plant’s production capability include knitting, dyeing, finishing and printing along with value added mechanical finishes of suede, brush, pre-shrunk and specialized chemical finishes such as bio, antimicrobial, easy-care and water repellence.
Located 65km from Colombo at the Browns Industrial Park, Pannala, North Western Province the infrastructure spans 22.5 acres and is strategically located within close proximity to many major apparel companies and a two hour delivery radius to serve the key industrial zones in the Western and Central province.
Speaking at the plant’s opening, Browns Fabric Chairman, Sanakan Thamotharampillai said: “We are pleased to be a part of an initiative that will reap benefits on a cross-section of levels; from targeting foreign revenue and increasing exports, to fostering the local economy and providing much-needed job opportunities, Browns Fabric Limited will consistently and diligently work towards evolving into the leading fabric manufacturer in Sri Lanka.”
