Indus-League to tap UK and USA markets

The Bangalore-based readymade lifestyle garment manufacturer, Indus-League Clothing Ltd, is all set to enter the UK and USA markets with their new product Urban Yoga and its existing brands Scullers and Indigo Nation.

"We have received a number of live (distribution) enquiries from various quarters. The preliminary talks are still on. We are banking on our credibility and are hopeful of securing concrete proposals and entering the two markets soon," the Rs 150 crore Indus-League Clothing Ltd managing director K K Pant told Business Standard.

The foray into the UK and the USA "can be through licencee or retail stores, a factor to expand our business," Pant said.

The firm is focussing on the Urban Yoga brand for its entry into the UK market. Introduced last year, Urban Yoga is aimed specifically at the Yoga practitioners. "The response is immense. We are the first to introduce this category into the market. Going by one outlet, Urban Yoga is growing at 10-15 per cent per month," he revealed.

The Urban Yoga brand covers a wide range ? clothes meant to be worn while practicing Yoga, clothes that are inspired by Yoga, casual wear for both men and women, bags, towels and mats. "The US has a lot of Yoga practitioners. They have shown interest in such branded wear," he stated.

Indus-League Clothing Ltd, founded in 1999 by a team of eight management professionals from the clothing industry, has made a name for itself in the readywear garment sector. Presently, its operations and markets extend to Sri Lanka and parts of West Asia such as United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.

The firm grew 60 per cent during the previous financial year partly through expansion into new markets. "Our aim is to be among the top ten ward-robe brand companies in five years. Apart from the US and the UK, there have been trade enquiries from South Africa and Australia also," Pant added.

Other than Scullers, Indigo Nation and Urban Yoga, the firm owns women's wear Jealous Jeans and premium men's wear Urbana brands.

The firm recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the French company Etam to form a 50:50 joint venture for the manufacture and sale of lingerie and western wear.

Earlier in January, the Kishore Biyani-managed Pantaloon Industries acquired a 68 per cent stake in Indus-League Clothing Ltd. It picked up the stake from ICICI Ventures for Rs 24 crore.