Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn Ltd. (SLCL) is an integrated technology-driven multi-product player in the textile industry. The company started functioning in 1993 with a production capacity of 6 mm per annum of suiting and shirting.
Over the years, it has emerged one of the largest textile manufacturers with products ranging from home furnishings to blended fabrics, quilted fabrics, fusible interlining, embroidered fabrics, terry towels, denim fabrics and bottom weight fabrics. The fabricated equipments also include sleeping bags and tents and fabrics like haversacks, facelets, protective clothing and casualty bags.
SLCL is projecting a turnover of Rs. 2,300 crores in 2011-12 and Rs. 3,000 crores in 2012-13. In 2010-11 it clocked a turnover of Rs. 1,798.38 crores with net profit of Rs. 105.29 crores.
The company is in the process of backward expansion of its existing facilities and is in talks with some non-performing private cotton textile companies for acquisition. Apart from the regular textile business, SLCL has entered into the high-end eco-friendly organic textiles such as Vitamin E (skin care) bed sheets, water-repellent bed sheets, mosquito-repellent bed sheets, bacteria-repellent bed sheets and stain-free bed sheets under the new brand WeaveS. It is also successfully diversifying its portfolio to de-risk its business model and foraying into the branded retail segment with terry towels, home furnishings, high-end organic textile and denim trousers. There are plans to open 1,500 retail outlets by the end of the year.
SLCL is undergoing a major expansion at an outlay of Rs. 992 crores for its denim, wider width and technical textile products. The project cost is divided into a term loan of Rs. 693 crores and equity of Rs. 299 crores.
The company has seven manufacturing facilities in Aung, Malwan, Abhaypur and Raahsupur in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Sonepat in Haryana, Roorkee in Uttrakhand and at Noida. Its product range includes bed-linen, terry towel, denim and bottom weights, readymade garments, fusible interlinings, embroidered fabrics and zippers. It services large institutional clients with a range of uniform fabrics, ballistics, 360 degree protected armoured vehicles, fabricated equipments such as sleeping bags and tents and fabrics like haversacks, facelets, and protective clothing and casualty bags.
SLCL is a market leader in fusible interlining with over 35 per cent market share. Its product range is spread across several product brands such as “STAR TRACK” (Fusible interlining) “SVL” (zippers) “ALISHA” (Embroidery and Lace Fabric) and “GALAXY” (denim trousers, garments and bottom weight fabrics) and now the eco-friendly brand “WEAVES” (home furnishing) for health conscious families. It has recently launched a new readymade product range called DYFI translated as Do You Fit In.
Keeping pace with the changing dynamics of textile business and ushering into a new era the company has introduced the finest technology into the textile business in India. Besides state-of-the-art four manufacturing facilities across Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Haryana, SLCL is in the process of introducing Smart Textiles, i.e., Smart Vests and Smart Jackets, with the use of nanotechnology. It plans to use this technology for developing Nano-Carbon Sensors for Smart and Medical Textiles. With the help of nanotechnology, Shri Lakshmi will develop smart vest which will be wearable, washable and will use integrated flexible sensors with RFID to continuously monitor human physiological conditions which will determine fatigue, stress, heart conditions, blood pressure, etc., and will also help monitor soldiers’ movement in the battle field.
SLCL is backed by a highly professional team and skilled workforce of over 3,000 workers, technicians and other staff. It has its network of 750 dealers/distributors across the country for domestic sales.
Weaves Studio in Tirupati
SLCL recently inaugurated its first weaves studio in Tirupati. The company is planning to launch 100 more such studios across the country. The studio displays the complete range of home furnishing products like bedsheets, bedcovers, comforters, towels, bathrobes, draw sheets, AC quilts, cushions & bath mats and kitchen accessories.
“This is the first weaves studio, our exclusive store. The others are opening shortly. We plan to open around 100 weaves studios this year. We will also open 100 weaves boutiques which will be based on a shop-in-shop format,” said Mr. Sanjay Gupta, President-Retail, Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn.
Weaves products, the cost ranging from a mere Rs. 49 to Rs. 4,199, cater to all the segments of shoppers. “We are expecting to generate revenue of around Rs. 1 crore per annum from the Tirupati store,” Mr. Gupta added.
The theme and layout of the store has been designed to give customers a pleasant and comfortable shopping experience – a combination of premium looks with affordable shopping experience.
DYFI brand
SLCL has also launched its exclusive stores for the readymade garment brand DYFI across India. A denim wear targeted at the young consumers of growing India, the brand would include jeans, shirts, casual trousers, cargos, shorts and tees. The garments will be manufactured at the company’s Roorkee facility which has a capacity of manufacturing 6.6 million pieces per annum.
During the launch, Mr. Dileep Bajaj, Executive Director of Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn Ltd., said: “There are many denim players in the market, but they can be categorized largely as premium branded denim wears and the discounted brands, leaving a huge need for quality products at right price. To tap this market, we have priced DYFI aggressively and will give a strong reason for customers to change their wardrobe.”
Mr. Sharad Agrawal, Business Head – Retail, said: “We are targeting the mid-segment of the jeans wear industry which has around 20% growth. Quality product and aggressive pricing are the USP of our brand. After opening three stores in Delhi and NCR, now we are looking to other metro cities along with State capitals and other B towns.”
With denims priced at Rs. 999 to Rs. 1,499, shirts at Rs. 899 to Rs. 1,299 and T-shirts Rs. 399 to Rs. 599, the DYFI venture provides Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn a forward integration opportunity.
“We have already started distributing our collection through multi-branded outlets in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, New Delhi, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh and the North East. We are looking forward for a good response from the public”, added Mr. Bajaj.
DYFI exclusive stores are promoted to offer customers complete jeanswear category of DYFI brand under one roof. DYFI range is already distributed by the company’s authorized 11 distributors to about 200 MBOs in 15 States.
Smart Vest to monitor health on the go
SLCL has unveiled Smart Vest, a jacket that can transmit your medical condition to a doctor through wireless network. The Smart Vest comes embedded with sensors and an electronic chip that transmits details about the wearer’s health parameters like blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, etc., to the nearest monitoring centre through wireless technology. The chip also acts as a positioning system that allows the wearer to be tracked and rescued.
The vest is ideal for both defence and medical sectors. While soldiers and paramilitary personnel in the firing line can be tracked by the command centre for their position and medical condition, doctors can remotely assess the data of patients and suggest medication online, increasing the reach of quality diagnosis and medication.
Unveiling the Smart Vest, Dr. MP Agarwal, SLCL Managing Director, said: “This is the first time such a technology is being used in India to get accurate and specific data in the field of defense and medicine, and this would be a great boon in both the fields.”
He went on to add that besides defence and medical sectors, the common man is also expected to benefit immensely from this invention. The Smart Vest package, which includes a T-shirt and a CD, will help individuals monitor their health on their personal computers from the comfort of their homes. Although it would not be a replacement for available medical diagnostic equipments, it could go a long way in early diagnosis and prevention of fatal diseases.