MAS is a $1.6 billion conglomerate recognised as one of the world’s most trusted design-to-delivery solution providers in the realm of apparel and textile manufacturing. Headquartered in Sri Lanka with 48 manufacturing facilities across 15 countries, design locations in key style centers across the globe and with over 83,000 people involved in its operation. MAS has a very diversified portfolio under its umbrella. In addition to apparel and textiles, it has businesses in SAP-related IT solutions, its own retail brands and Industrial Parks. MAS is indeed a conglomerate that strives to create a self-sustained eco system in the global business arena.
In 1987, Mahesh, Ajay and Sharad Amalean introduced lingerie manufacturing to South Asia. What seemed as venturing down a rather unconventional path has resulted in a big success story. From 1994 to date, each year MAS secured Awards including in areas such as quality, innovation, human resource and sustainability.
Intimate wear, MAS’s initial venture into the apparel manufacturing industry, began with the bold product choice of lingerie. Today its extensive product portfolio includes bras, shape wear, men’s essentials, performance wear, sleepwear, etc. The customers are world-famous brands like Victoria’s Secret, Marks & Spencer, Calvin Klein and others.
Swimwear – Linea Aqua commenced operations in 2001 when the MAS Group joined hands with swimwear giant Speedo International (UK) and Brandot International (USA). Linea Aqua’s product capabilities range from high-performance competition swimwear to designer wear, leisure and children’s swimwear.
Active wear – MAS Active is a specialist in stylish, ‘second-skin’ active wear. Paramount to MAS Active’s evolution is the on-going exchange of knowledge with partners and customers. One such partnership led to the creation of recycled fabric from solid waste, further strengthening the organization’s commitment to sustainable apparel manufacturing.
Fabrics
With its manufacturing and sales operations spanning over 10 countries, the Fabric Cluster of MAS not only feeds its internal operations but also works closely with its global clientele to deliver a holistic supply chain solution from design to manufacture for a wide range of apparel.
The Fabrics Cluster embodies a spectrum of manufacturing facilities ranging from fabric and fabric printing to an array of trims: Noyon Lanka is its knitted lace manufacturer; Trischel is its vertically integrated circular and warp knit fabric facility; the Stretchline Group designs and produces narrow performance fabrics, including elastics for a wide range of apparel; Textprint Lanka is a fully integrated fabric printing operation with the ability to print on both cotton and synthetic fabrics; and Prym Intimates designs and manufactures a wide range of accessories and embellishments for intimate apparel.
Sustainability
Over the past eight years MAS Holdings has implemented measures to embed environmental sustainability at the core of its business by implementing standards across all its facilities. MAS also has the world’s first eco-manufacturing plant for apparel – MAS Intimates Thurulie.
MAS also has the largest rooftop solar solution in Sri Lanka – a 1-megawatt installation atop MAS Fabrics Matrix. The rooftop solar plant is roughly the size of 1.3 football fields.
The commitment to sustainability at MAS has over the years become integrated into the way business is done. The group’s strategy sits on two key pillars of “Products Made Better” that focuses on environmental impacts and “Lives Made Better” which focuses on adding value to all stakeholders, especially employees, families and communities.
MAS is currently in the process of integrating sustainability performance to its value chain. As founding member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) MAS Holdings pursues the vision of an apparel, footwear, and home textiles industry that produces no unnecessary environmental harm and has a positive impact on the people and communities associated with its activities.
The MAS Eco Go Beyond is a Sustainable Development Education Program launched in 2006, that has to date taught sustainability to over 45,000 children of 14 to 18 years. It is the only private-public partnership in the country with the Ministry of Education.
MAS Fabric Park SL
The MAS Fabric Park is Sri Lanka’s first privately owned apparel intensive free trade zone. Its operation focuses primarily on the development and value addition of fabrics. Located in one of the country’s free trade zones, the park that spans 165 acres (41.25 ha) plays a strategic role in the vertical integration of the MAS supply chain. In tandem, it also offers shared services to the company’s investors and other apparel-related suppliers.
This industrial park has been designed to be self-sufficient and eco-friendly in its operations even when it comes to synthetic fabrics. With its water treatment capacity of 9,000 m³, its centralized steam supply (biomass), internal power distribution and an industrial building space of over 700,000 square feet (over 65,000 m²), MAS Fabric Park provides convenience and efficiency of operation from design to delivery.
– Courtesy: Groz Beckert