Mafatlal Group forays into home textiles business

It is also planning to invest about Rs 150 crore over 2-3 years for capacity expansion

Having established itself as one of the leading school and office uniform marketer, leading vertically integrated textile manufacturing group Arvind Mafatlal Group is now foraying into home furnishings.

"We are now foraying into home furnishings. However, we will not be manufacturing it but will be branding and marketing it under Mafatlal. We have tied with an alliance partner for the same," said Hrishikesh Mafatlal, chairman of Arvind Mafatlal Group without divulging details of the alliance partner on the sidelines of an international conference on cotton here.

According to the company, it has also begun test marketing of the home furnishing products and is exploring various distribution models.

Apart from home furnishings, Mafatlal Industries is also foraying into polyester viscose (PV) suiting.

The group is in the process of amalgamation of its group company Mafatlal Denim with its flagship company Mafatlal Industries. "We hope to see through the amalgamation in a month or so," Mafatlal added.

Mafatlal was in Ahmedabad to offer his keynote address at the international conference on cotton, organised by city-based Diagonal Consulting, Textile Association of India (TAI) and Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association. "At Mafatlal Group, we are looking to grow from Rs 820 crore this year (2012-13) to Rs 1,500 crore by 2016-17," said Mafatlal in his keynote address.

Arvind Mafatlal Group is also planning to invest about Rs 150 crore over 2-3 years for capacity expansion in textiles and denim manufacturing. While Rs 90 crore will be invested in Mafatlal Industries, Rs 60 crore will be invested in Mafatlal Denim. The group is looking to enhance its denim capacity from current 20 million metres per annum to 30 million metres per annum while its textile capacity will be expanded from 25 million metres per annum to 35 million metres per annum.

Mafatlal Industries, which has three plants in Gujarat, namely in Nadiad and Navsari plants, produces a complete range of products in 100 per cent cotton, polyester-cotton, polyester-viscose and polyester-wool blends, consisting of yarn dyed and piece dyed shirtings, poplins, bottom wear fabrics and voiles.