Esquire Knit Composite Ltd. (EKCL), a part of the Esquire Group, is investing Tk. 576.63 crores to set up a green factory. As a part of its expansion plan, EKCL has started a new ‘Green’ project which will start operations this year. With a total manpower of 15,000 people, the company will manufacture intimates and active wear. Initial production will start from August next.
The new Green facility will have the most modern facilities. There will be executive apartment building with the capacity for 100 people and residential facility for female workers. This is a unique project of Esquire promotes women empowerment and rights.
The Esquire Group started its journey as an electronic goods retailing company in the 1980s. It went for unrelated diversification as a part of its expansion strategy by entering the textile sector in 1993. The company gained significant industrial knowledge for over a decade from its group companies, namely, Esquire Dyeing Industries, Esquire Knitwear Ltd., and Synthia Multi-Fiber Ltd.
Esquire went for the expansion in RMG by establishing a new venture called Esquire Knit Composite Ltd. (EKCL) in 2001. It has expanded gradually to become a conglomerate with yarn dyeing, knitting, fabric dyeing and finishing, printing, embroidery, accessories and knit garments manufacturing facilities under one roof.
EKCL’s current monthly production capacity is over 2 million pieces of garments. Using state-of-the-art-technology, focused business policies and maintaining business ethics over the years helped it successfully establish its name as a world-class garment manufacturer in the knit garments segment.
In view of the increased demand from the existing buyers and to attract more volumetric buyers of readymade garments, EKCL has undertaken an expansion project under the Green concept of its export-oriented composite knitting industry. The new green projects will increase the knitting and dyeing capacity by 12,000 MT and apparel making by 45 million pieces per annum.
Bangladesh is a developing country and it has a long way to go to reach the point of economic stability and prosperity. The company wants to take part in that journey, and it means business. The management plans to be a major contributor to the economic progress through exporting ready-made garments. But at the same time the environmental issues cannot be ignored. So EKCL is going in for the “Go Green” concept. Among some 280 green factories in Bangladesh, there are 67 certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
The knitting unit of the company currently has a capacity of producing 20 tons of knit fabrics a day.
The Esquire Group currently employs over 8,000 people, serving European and American Chain stores, fashion brands and super markets. Esquire wants to make “one stop shop” in true sense for two rapidly growing product categories in the country.
EKCL is exporting RMG to European and the US chain stores, fashion brands and super markets. The major international buyers of the company are C&A, Best Seller, Ostin, Espirit, Mascot, Celio, Next, Tee Jays, Tchibo, Pull & Bear, etc.