Aditya Birla (AB) Group entity Jaya Shree Textiles is planning to unveil a range of linen-blended fabrics under a new brand name, Mazury, complementing its offering of linen-blended apparels under the Cavallo brand, a top official said.
Initially, both the brands, in the value-for-money range, would be available only online, Satyaki Ghosh CEO, domestic textile and Thai Acrylic Fibre of the AB Group told The Hindu , adding that the fabrics and apparels would be manufactured at its six decade-old Rishra unit in West Bengal.
“With over 41,500 spindles, this is the world’s fourth-largest linen yarn spinning facility,” he said. “The integrated unit houses annual fabric manufacturing capacity of 10 million metres,” he added. The facility also makes worsted yarn from Merino wool. It uses raw material (flax and hemp) from France and Belgium and has four strategic business units, exporting to more than 50 countries according to its official website.
Both, the fabrics and the garments, would be made at the Rishra unit which is now being ramped up after a two-month closure. It was closed since June 4, first on account of a strike by workers protesting disciplinary action by the management and then a lockout declared by the company which saw growing militancy by a section of the workers. All this happened amid talks of a productivity-linked five-year wage pact (the current three-year agreement expired in July). It employs about 5,700 persons.
New wage pact
While suspensions were revoked (barring on two who would face enquiry), the management was able to hammer out a five-year productivity-linked wage pact with a daily minimum wage of ₹299, it was learnt.
“Everyone is working overtime now,” Mr. Ghosh said, pointing out that promotional campaigns were also being readied for the ensuing festive season beginning with Durga Puja. The unit was being geared up. The AB Group has invested ₹400 crore since 2015, including ₹250 crore recently for a linen production line. The unit, operating as a division of Grasim, contributes about ₹2,000 crore to Grasim’s topline. “While Linen Club, the brand promoted by the Aditya Birla Group for its linen range, has been a pioneer in developing the market for nearly two decades, there is intense competition among the top five players,” added Mr. Ghosh.
On Cavallo and Mazury, Mr. Ghosh said that the first lot of shirts and trousers, using a 55:45 linen-cotton blend, was already available on Amazon. Mazury may be unveiled on and offline by August-end.
The premium offerings of pure linen garments and accessories are already available at the stores under the Linen Club Studio brand.
