KANDYGS, a top handloom exporter wins NCE recognition
View(s):Sri Lanka’s experienced handloom exporter KANDYGS added to its previous impressive achievements by winning three big awards at the NCE export Awards ceremony held recently.
Co-founder Sita Yahampath was recognized with a Gold award for Best Woman Exporter 2012. Previously, Ms. Yahampath has won a Presidential Export award for outstanding export performance, the Priyadharshani Award from the Federation of Indian Women Entrepeneurs and Zonta award for Woman of Achievement.
Picture shows co-founder Sita Yahampath receiving the award.
Since founding the company with 10 looms 42 years ago, Ms. Yahampath has been the livewire in transforming the business with a focus on exports. The company now has over 200 handlooms, 30 power looms, and a fully equipped dye house. 300 women have also been trained to work from home forming a network of self employed weavers. Spearheading the overseas marketing effort through continuous participation in international trade fairs, Ms. Yahampath has been successful in establishing the KANDYGS brand with buyers in 10 countries, spanning Europe, Asia & Australia. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Anuradha Yahampath joined KANDYGS after her degree in Textile design from the University of Leeds (UK). Her flair for design and commitment to being Eco friendly is demonstrated through the exclusive use of natural dyes in the manufacture of KANDYGS fabrics. “She is passionate about reviving local handlooms as a village based industry, and successfully set up a pilot project in Ihala Madampella in the Gampaha district with assistance from the Ministry of Economic Development. This village now has 200 active weavers, and through her efforts their products are a part of the redesigned interiors on the national airline Sri Lankan.
Identifying the main constraint to development of the industry as dependency on imports of yarn, Anuradha pioneered the use of bamboo yarn in Sri Lanka for manufacture of handloom fabric,” a statement from the company said.
Ms. Anuradha Yahampath was awarded Silver for Most Innovative Exporter by NCE. The third award won by KANDYGS at the recent NCE Export Awards was Silver for Export Industry (small category).
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