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SP Apparels Ltd, a Coimbatore-based fully integrated garment exporter and retailer, has acquired one of India's well-known women's Western wear brand 'Natalia', which was owned by Chennai-based garment export company, SM Apparels. This acquisition of Natalia will help SP Apparels to aggressively tap the immense potential in the women's wear market in India, said P Sundararajan, managing director, SP Apparels.
He said, "The women's Western wear category, including the formal and casual wear, is growing at a fast pace and catching the fancy of today's independent working women. Currently, there is a huge demand for women's western wear and very few well-known brands are available in the retail market. After making a successful foray into the retail sector recently and establishing a strong presence in the men's wear category - under the Crocodile brand for the 'young-at-hearts' - we are now gearing up to tap the lucrative opportunities in the women's wear market in India."
Sujata Pai, the former director of the Natalia brand, said, "The brand 'Natalia' is our dream child and we have nurtured it quite successfully. And we were very particular about handing over the brand to the right hands. Now we feel that SP Apparels Ltd, by virtue of its strength in design capabilities, combined with manufacturing and retail experience, can take the brand 'Natalia' to a greater height."
Speaking about the future strategy of brand Natalia, Sundararajan added, "Natalia targets upwardly mobile Indian women in the age group 20-35 years. Its product portfolio focuses on a range of smart casuals, and specialty wear that truly reflect the strength, individuality and confidence of the contemporary Indian woman."
The Natalia brand has been quite popular for its comfort and the exact fitting that has a ready acceptance with the customers seeking these clothes. It comprises a range of formal and semi-formal styles in skirts, trousers, jackets, capris, shorts, dress, shirts, blouses, camisoles and T-shirts, made from a range of fabrics in cotton, blends of polyesters, silk, linen, Iycra, rayon and viscose fabrics, to name a few. These are specifically designed in consideration with the international fashion using the latest fabric trends, texture (feel) and colour - making them comfortable to wear, Sujata Pai said.
SP Apparels Ltd is one of India's leading exporters of knitwear to large international retailers and importers in Europe and the US. It recorded a topline of Rs 265 crore for the year ended March 2007. It has registered a growth rate of 39 per cent in export sales for 2007.
The company forayed into the Indian retail market by acquiring Crocodile Products Pvt Ltd, and has already lined up nine company-owned stores apart from the 50-odd franchisee-owned outlets within a short span of nine months. The retail division has already set the base by strengthening in the existing markets and penetrating into new markets. It has recorded a growth rate in retail sales by 30 per cent.
R Rangaraj
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