Cottons by Century to paint town blue

Textiles company to enter denim sector

Cottons by Century, ready-to-wear garment division of Century Textiles, is planning to enter the denim segment.

Subrata Siddhartha, business head of the division, told Business Standard that the company would introduce a full range of denim wears, including shirts, trousers, jackets, kurta-pyjamas and ties.

Besides, the company will also launch accessories like belts and wallets made of denim, Subrata said.

"The launch will take place towards the end of this year or early next year. The company will open separate chain of outlets which will exist side by side with Cottons by Century," Subrata said.

He said the denim range would be marketed under a different brand name, which is yet to be finalised.

Subrata said expansion plans for Cottons by Century is underway and the company would open 60 new showrooms in the current year. It already runs 58 outlets in the country.

"Our strategy will be to start shops in cities where we have a presence," Subrata said, adding that the proposed expansion would cost around Rs 9 crore.

Subrata said the turnover of Cottons by Century, which was Rs 24 crore in 2004-05, is projected to cross the Rs 50-crore mark during this year and touch Rs 100 crore by March 2008.

To support the projections, company has earmarked 12 per cent of its sales as cost for advertising and promotions, Subrata said, and added that there was little possibility of the company signing up someone as brand ambassador.