Diplomatic envoys from the United States and India recently visited Sri Lanka-based Brandix
Apparel, a manufacturer specializing in a variety of apparel products for such brands as Marks
& Spencer, Gap®, Lands’ End and Victoria’s Secret. The US delegation included Ambassador Robert
Blake Jr.; his wife, Sofia Blake; Vice Consul Emily J. Hicks; and Kami Witmer, chief of economic
and commercial affairs at the US Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Alok Prasad, Indian high
commissioner, also toured the plant.
The Brandix facility is platinum-rated by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) rating system established by the US Green Building Council. According to Brandix, it is the
first apparel manufacturing facility in the world to achieve a platinum rating after scoring 76 on
the 85-point scoring system, in which 64 is required for platinum status. The company has reduced
its carbon emissions by 80 percent and water consumption by 70 percent, has realized energy savings
of 46 percent, and sends zero solid waste to landfill.
“Brandix was most pleased to host the American and Indian envoys on a visit to the Green
Plant,” said AJ Johnpillai, Brandix director. “Such visits by eminent and influential personalities
serve the very important purpose of creating better awareness overseas of our commitment to
environment-friendly manufacture and are beneficial to the apparel industry as a whole.”
April/May/June 2009