EXPORTER PROFILE
Dressmen Limited
by Bullmer, offering sustainable
solutions in cutting areas. “We found
that it is difficult to maintain the labour
and maintenance costs in manual
cutting. For accurate quality, we had
been using systems earlier also, but
we found that in the current scenario,
Bullmer is the most viable solution for
us and then we simply went for that.”
Priyantha strongly believes in
Bullmer and sharing his experience
while working with the very basic
machines states, “machines are very
work-friendly and the company is
offering extensive support regarding
the same.” Progressively, Bullmer is
also supporting the Group to keep its
viability alive. Priyantha further added:
“Initially I found that installation
was done well. They supported us by
giving operators and other workers
to train our people. Then we found
that systems are not that critical for
us to run by ourselves. Now internally,
we have trained our people and
we also have a technical team that
comes in here every month to do
the routines and we found that it is
working out well.”
The management is very confident
of the future and already has an
expansion plan under implementation.
“In 2017, we will have expansion
on sewing and production capacity
in place, following centralization of
cutting. By the end of this year, we
have planned for a turnover of around
US $ 70 million and for 2018, our plan
is to touch US $ 85 million turnover,”
shares Priyantha.
The Group currently is very upbeat;
cost reduction with innovative ideas
like cutting room optimization, will
definitely reap benefits. “The maximum
saving comes from the fabric, because
in our product, at least 55 per cent
cost is of the fabric. We are focusing on
optimization front to utilize the fabric
to the maximum. The automation
basically helps you to discipline cutting
room, this will improve monitoring and
reduce malpractice,” says the Director
of Univogue Group.
The Group is simply looking at cost
advantage tactics in its production
module to reduce costs, increase
revenue and drive profits. Priyantha,
sticking to his similar product strategy
advocates, “We have more or less
set-up our lines for 60 machines. At
present, we are having three cutters
and four spreaders. The products are
chosen to suit our operation.”
Evolving to Prosper!
Company’s Director underlines the transformation initiatives undertaken by Dressmen, and why…
Evolution is as much essential for success in any business as it is for apparel! As socio-economic
conditions undergo changes, markets go through the cycles and products reach saturation
making way for the new ones. In such a scenario, transformation is the only option to maintain
business growth and financial viability. The difference between a successful and an extinct business
thus is the recognition and successful execution of transformative processes, and who better
understands the same than the young and suave Director of the more than three-decade-old
Dressmen Limited, Maashed R Abdullah, a Graduate from Indiana University Bloomington
(Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising and Business Entrepreneurship), responsible
for the Group’s Marketing, Development, Social Compliance, Information Technology and
Quality Departments.
E
stablished in 1984 as a partnership
business with just 60 machines and
150 workers under a project loan from
Pubali Bank Ltd. under the leadership
of Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer Hasan Abdullah,
Dressmen has come a long way. At
present, it owns five production units
with a combined workforce of 4000
workers and plans to establish a couple
of more units soon to be considered
one of the top garment manufacturers
and exporters of Bangladesh. Living
up to its reputation, Dressmen has
always embraced the path of evolution
to maintain its relevance in these
changing times.
“Business dynamics have been changing
rapidly and if one has to stay in the
race, there’s no option but to think out
of the box and keep evolving… After
every 3-4 years, one has to change the
game plan in this business and we are
currently exploring all the possibilities,”
Maashed declares, underlining
Dressmen’s evolving business strategy in
terms of markets, products, alliances and
innovations. Counting USA as its primary
market so far (accounting for almost 70
per cent of the business), Maashed is
shifting focus to Europe (which accounts
for the company’s 30 per cent business)
now and has his reasons for the same.
28 Apparel Online Bangladesh | JULY 2017 | www.apparelresources.com
Maashed R Abdullah, Director, Dressmen Limited