'Black & White' textiles in Agra

Floral prints are out and black is the new trend now in the Indian textile scene. Catching on with the changing trends, Bombay Dyeing launched a new collection of bed sheets and towels in the combination of black & white in Agra on Wednesday, brand named "Ebony & Ivory".

This collection was launched by the company during its annual three-day "Style Fest "� 2005", organised at the Hotel Jaypee Palace of Agra this year, in which over 600 dealers and retailers of Bombay Dyeing participated.

Talking to media persons on the launch of this new range, Aloke Banerjee, head of domestic business, Bombay Dyeing, said this launch was the primary attraction in this fest, set on the theme "Black & White".

He said before selecting this theme, the company had conducted a country-wide survey among 1,600 people. Most of these people voted for Black & White as this year's theme for the new product range. He said this range would be available at all Bombay Dyeing showrooms from June 14 till the end of August, after which, the company will bring in a new collection.

According to Banerjee, the novel feature of this new theme will be the complete makeover of Bombay Dyeing showrooms according to the theme in Black & White. Even 400 retail outlets countrywide shall be transformed according to the new theme. Even the ad campaigns of Bombay Dyeing shall incorporate this new theme.

He said Bombay Dyeing, a 125-year-old brand name, was worth Rs 1,000 crore, with the largest textile production capacity among the Indian textile manufacturers in the country.

He said that the company held a 35 percent share in the organised market for bedsheets while it possessed 42 percent of the market for towels through its 3400 dealers and NBOs, facing the toughest challenge from the unorganised sector which saved a lot of money in taxes . Still, the company was number one in both bedsheets & towels, he added.

The fest is also being attended by the company General Manager (Sales) R B Sinha and General Manager (Marketing) Bami Elvia.