Dian Gomes wants to share ‘Hela’ wealth
View(s):Hela Clothing, a clothing group which recently came under apparel expert Dian Gomes, plans to go public while also investing in Kenya, a source market for the US. The company plans to go public in about four years once it becomes a US$400 million organization, company Chairman Dian Gomes told the Business Times.
He said that in doing so they would be “sharing the wealth” with the people.
The company also plans to establish itself by buying more small local factories.
Commenting on his own work systems he said “People think I’m a radical, but I’m a socialist.”
He noted that Kenya is a market which has duty free access to the US for its products as a result of which they moved in with one plant.
The company has acquired six plants from Jinadasa company and plans more mergers with smaller companies, he explained. Currently, it has plants in Hambantota, Matale and Kurunegala and were marketing to clients like Calvin Klein, Marks and Spencer, Levis, Decathlon and Soma Intimates, a US brand.
When Mr. Gomes moved into Hela Clothing, it was a $80 million company with about 6,000 people and about six plants but has now grown to a $130 million company with 10,000 people. Retiring in December 2015 from MAS, Mr. Gomes joined Hela Clothing bringing in British national and former Merrill Lynch Chairman Robert Wigley as an investor in February this year. Marketing lingerie, casual wear and kids-wear, Hela joined Foundation Garments which has a history of about 25 years, it was noted.
Mr. Gomes explained that they were looking at making this industry much more productive through lean innovation and speed to the market with timely delivery. The ex-MAS Director has been able to attract a number of staffers from his previous workplace to join the new establishment having picked about two senior persons in this regard and a few others joining the new clothing line.