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Coats, which has teamed with SLDF as the thread partner for three consecutive years, plays a major part in the event’s scope of promoting and facilitating apparel innovation.
In addition, Coats plc’s global CEO Paul Forman will arrive in Sri Lanka to take part in the festival and speak at the prestigious South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, where topics crucial for local industry growth will be discussed by apparel giants from across the world.
Coats Thread, a firm believer in research, knowledge-led development and innovation, believes that an aspect that allows Sri Lanka to distinguish itself among other regional competitors is the local apparel industry’s growing capacity to serve as a knowledge-based industry where design plays a key role.
This, paired with Sri Lanka’s ability to provide end-to-end turnkey solutions in apparel backed by massive global supply chain players like Coats, will play an important role in the country’s journey towards regional hub status. 
“Sri Lanka is well placed to become a hub for apparel and fashion innovation, based on the country’s ability to contribute to a future where design and technology is fused to produce unique, high-quality products and services. Coats and SLDF share the same vision: to support a fashion hub founded on education, creativity and research,” Managing Director of Coats Thread in Sri Lanka Giles Watkins said.
The partnership will also project Sri Lanka’s industrial and creative potential to leading markets through Coats’ global network of international industrial clients that include adidas, Lee, Marks and Spencer, Decathlon and Abercrombie & Fitch.
Founder of SLDF Linda Spendewinde said Coats is one the 2013 event’s key supporters: “Coats is a visionary company that identified education, research and creativity as the future of the industry, and this partnership throughout the years has allowed us to promote Sri Lanka Apparel’s innovation to a global audience.
Coats is also a passionate and genuine supporter of craft and sustainable agendas and it has supported rural textile weaving artisans as part of its massive CSR scope. We’re honoured to have them onboard.”
Coats’ CSR program benefits school children to craft artisans in Sri Lanka as well assupporting SLDF’s sustainable fashion agenda.
SLDF’s work in textile weaving villages, in collaboration with Coats, will be a main focus at the SLDF’s ‘Sustainable Fashion Runway’ this year.
Coats is the world’s leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, operating in more than 70countries and employing 20,000 people across six continents.
One in five garments on the planet is held together with Coats’ thread and it is the largest global player in the textile crafts market.
Coats invests each year in research, development and product innovation and is a firm supporter of sharing knowledge and creative education.
In addition to Coats Thread, SLDF 2013 is supported by many. SLDF 2013’s principal partner is MAS holdings. SLDF was founded by AOD International Design Campus. The Sri Lanka Government, Export Development Board and Sri Lanka Apparel are SLDF 2013 key stakeholders.
SLDF 2013 is also supported by GT Nexus Official Software Partner, Standard Chartered Bank – Sustainable Fashion Summit Partner, Textured Jersey – Contributing Partner, British Council – Knowledge Partner, Mount Lavinia Hotel – Official Host, Cheryl Gooneratne Official Hair & Makeup, International Media Partner –WGSN, Just-Style, Drapers as well as the partners Goethe Institut, Vista Advertising and Sunshine Travels and Tours.
