INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Israeli officials are particular about the quality of material and details of the stitching
(File)Thiruvananthapuram: Why are officers of the Israeli police force travelling all the way to a non descript town in north Kerala in
frequent intervals Because, their elegant light-blue, long sleeve uniform shirts are being stitched at an apparel unit in Kannur, which has
the glorious tradition of handloom making and textile export.Hundreds of tailors at the Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited, operating at the
industrial park at Valiyavelicham in the district, are toiling hard to get the spic and span uniforms ready for the Israel police.They not
only stitch the double-pocket shirts but also design and attach the trademark emblems on its sleeves.The local dressmakers have been
supplying nearly one lakh shirts annually to the Israeli police for the last three years.Owned by Thodupuzha-based businessman Thomas
Olickal, the company also bagged the orders for supplying uniforms for Kuwait's fire service and national guard.If everything goes as
planned, the Maryan Apparel would soon start stitching uniforms for the Philippine Army, a top company official said."We are supplying
uniform shirts to the Israeli police- both men and women officers- for the last three years," Sijin Kumar, accounts and administration
manger of the company said."Earlier, we used to supply trousers also
But, the order for it was bagged by a Chinese firm recently.We hope that we will get the contract back at the earliest and discussions are
going on in this regard," he said.Launched at the state-run Kinfra Park in 2006, the company specialises in uniforms of army men, police
personnel, security officers and health service workers of various countries across the globe.It also supplies school uniforms, dress for
super market staff, doctors' coats, coveralls, corporate wears and so on.In 2008, the apparel unit was shifted to Kannur with an objective
to provide employment to local people who had become jobless due to the decline of the traditional beedi sector there.Sijin Kumar said the
Israeli officials are very particular about the quality of the material and even the minute details of the stitching and embroidery."They
visit the stitching unit at frequent intervals to monitor the process.Recently, they entrusted the task of monitoring with a company in
Tamil Nadu and their team come here once in a month to check the quality of the work," Factory Manager, Shaneesh TV said.The number of
uniforms stitched at the unit would depend on their requirements.Generally, it would be between 50,000-1,00,000 annually, he said.The
material for the uniform of Israel police is imported from US.The cloth, produced at the company's own mill in Mumbai, would also be used at
times.The apparel unit that employs 850 people, majority of them women, are planning to expand its operations in the coming years
But, the lack of sufficient trained and skilled manpower is a major cause of concern for the company authorities.
