MAS Holdings, one of Sri Lanka’s leading apparel export firms, was recently recognised as the ‘Exporting Conglomerate of the Year’ at the Presidential Export Awards 2019, held at the BMICH Colombo. This marks the second consecutive year the company has been awarded this honour, after it was introduced at last year’s awards to celebrate export excellence by a Sri Lankan corporate. The firms also received accolades for Contributor to Sustainable Development in Exports and Exporter to the Global Value Chain.
Held under the patronage of the President Maithripala Sirisena this year, the Presidential Export Awards recognize and reward top performers in the export community who make a significant contribution to the national economy. The ‘Exporting Conglomerate of the Year’ accolade is awarded following a stringent selection process based on several criteria including a company’s export turnover, financial performance, value addition and creation of employment opportunities. MAS was adjudged the winner owing to its market-leading position in focus areas such as product innovation, implementation of sustainable policies, the company’s impact through CSR, implementation of quality management systems and incremental growth of exports.
Commenting on the occasion, Deputy Chairman of MAS Holdings, Sharad Amalean, said: “MAS is proud to have contributed towards positioning Sri Lanka as an ethical and sustainable destination for high-value, technologically advanced design-to-delivery apparel solutions. We dedicate this award to our valued employees who are the driving force behind our business. As we head into a digital era in the country and MAS evolves as a global company, we have an opportunity to enhance our skills and knowledge further. Technology will play a crucial role in enabling our growth, as well as the development of the export industry as a whole, increasing our individual effectiveness and efficiency, and leading to greater value addition. These awards are a testament of the hard work and commitment shown by all our associates across the country and beyond.”
Suren Fernando, Chief Transformation Officer / CEO Designate – MAS Holdings, stated: “For the past 30 years, MAS has been a vital part of Sri Lanka’s economic fabric. At a macro level we have shaped our nation’s journey to establish itself as a leading partner for the world’s most iconic brands. At a micro level, we have helped hundreds of thousands of people build their lives – as a source of employment, strength, and community. As we now craft our future as a ground-breaking apparel technology company offering consumers functional clothing solutions for diverse needs, we will strive to keep setting the pace for Sri Lanka’s apparel industry.”
Initiated by the Export Development Board in 1981, the Presidential Export Awards are the most prestigious export awards in Sri Lanka and are presented to companies that have made a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
Patented Technology Infused Headguard Worn at Rugby World Cup 2019
MAS Holdings’ patented Injection Foam Mold Technology used for the Canterbury Reinforcer head guard is leading a timely revolution in protection gear for impact sports at the ongoing Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. The world’s long-standing leader of Rugby clothing, kit and gear – Canterbury introduced the new and improved head guard collaborating with MAS through the dedicated team at Silueta who is the conglomerate’s pioneering innovative apparel solutions provider.
“Through this collaborative effort Silueta has invested, innovated and introduced to the world an impact protection headgear that is today being worn by top performers on one of the most revered of global stages – the Rugby World Cup,” commented Charith Wickrema, Director – Business Development at Silueta. “Our patented technologies have given us the liberty to come up with new developments, enabling us to collaborate and innovate novel products that offer better performance, comfort and safety to multiple other sports including soccer and cycling. Our ability to offer design-to-delivery solutions help us gain an unparalleled competitive edge over other global suppliers as a progressive apparel tech solutions provider.”
Driving innovation in product, process and technology, Silueta has a dedicated impact protection team consisting of former national rugby players, product development engineers as well as experts from Silicon Valley and the University of Oxford coming together to develop the next generation of protective technologies. With collisions being an inevitable part of high-intensity sports such as rugby, the head guard is ergonomically designed with high impact absorbing foam to maximize protective zones, giving full coverage to the head to reduce risk of cuts and abrasions. Conforming to World Rugby Specifications, the head guard is being worn by Canterbury brand ambassador and Welsh Forward Justin Tipuric at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
In addition to the rugby headgear, Silueta has developed a range of seamless ‘head-to-heel’ impact protection gear through its state-of-the-art injection molding manufacturing facility. Silueta is also a leading smart apparel supplier for sportswear as well as athleisure, shapewear and intimate wear, drawing from its decades-old repute as the largest bra cup supplier to intimate apparel manufacturers in the region.