Throughout its short history of just three decades, Sri Lanka’s apparel industry has been at the forefront of industrial excellence and social responsibility in Asia and as the global interest continues to intensify on how, where and by whom products were made, Sri Lanka Apparel was already ahead of the curve putting their own inherent ethical thinking into practice. From green factories to people friendly manufacturing plants, Sri Lanka has pioneered an apparel industry that is both ecologically responsible and free from sweatshop practices, child labour and discrimination.
We commend Mihiri for her pioneering effort to synergize the values of the ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ label by re-engineering industry ‘waste’ into a fashionable clothing collection under the label Redcocoon Stepping up and staying ahead of the curve has been the nature of the industry and such leading efforts to reach the consumer directly with sustainable fashion continues to solidify Sri Lanka Apparel’s leadership in ethical and sustainable fashion manufacturing on the global stage.
We congratulate Mihiri on the launch of her label Redcocoon and fully support her endeavors to create Sri Lanka’s first sustainable fashion brand.
Ajith Dias
Immediate past Chairman JAAF (Joint Apparel Association Forum), Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Apparel is currently a leader in the global fashion world partly due to is ethical business practices of manufacturing “Garments without Guilt”.
Mihiri de Silva, who has been engaged in the conscious transformation of the Sri Lankan Apparel industry from a mere “manufacturer” to a “total solutions provider”, embarks on a design journey, to take this concept further by creating fashion, which is re-engineered.
Re-engineered fashion is a sustainable, but growing design philosophy, which aims to be environmentally and socially conscious. Mihiri has explored how she can contribute to minimizing not only her own carbon footprint but that of the Sri Lankan Apparel industry.
Redcocoon also offers a unique opportunity to the socially responsible and environmentally conscious, an alternative in fashion which empowers them to be more considerate about the impact of their choices on our planet.
I congratulate Mihiri for her dedication and commitment to pursue her dream and wish her the very best.
Ashroff Omar
CEO Brandix, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has never compromised on quality or manufacturing in an always competitive field. Our Apparel exports have been the largest income earner in SL with a contribution of 52% With detrimental environmental changes taking place, being “green” in our lifestyles is ever more important than it has been before. In that context, Brandix has spearheaded numerous initiatives to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions at all manufacturing locations and pledged to reduce the entire Group’s carbon footprint by 30 per cent over the next two years. At the forefront of this undertaking is our world class LEED Platinum certified eco-friendly facility in Seeduwa that manufactures casual wear for M&S.
While we as a country have pioneered Ethical manufacturing, I congratulate Mihiri de Silva in initiating redcocoon, Sri Lanka's first sustainable fashion label.
It’s a simple yet environmentally correct process of making use of apparel industry post waste as Redcocoon converts such excess into new fashion lines. Thus, while being sustainable in their process, Redcocoon also contributes towards minimizing carbon emissions. By partnering with such green initiatives we can now further validate Sri Lanka's ethical apparel manufacturing process.
Brandix supports the initiative taken by Redcocoon.
Dian Gomes
Group Director - MAS Holdings, Sri lanka
In today’s globally competitive apparel manufacturing industry, Sri Lanka is commended for its superior product quality and world class manufacturing standards. Apparel is a major source income for the Sri Lankan economy, contributing to over half of the country’s exports and employing close to 15% of the nation’s workforce.
We as a country are proud to have pioneered the concept of ‘Ethical Manufacturing’, with the importance of “going green” increasing every day. In this light, I applaud Mihiri de Silva in launching redcocoon; Sri Lanka's first sustainable fashion label.
Redcocoon is a "green" initiative which not only encompasses a sustainable process for manufacturing fashion clothing but also has a near zero contribution to the manufacture of raw materials, as it uses only "post waste" apparel. Thus it is a green, process driven method of giving you new clothes with the least amount of carbon emission. With steps taken by Redcocoon, we now can further validate Sri Lanka's apparel manufacturing process as it has a partner in Redcocon who consciously says "don't throw, don't burn, don't use for landfill, but let us re engineer & design, your waste".
I endorse and proudly support the initiative taken by Redcocoon and wish the label every success!
Jeremy John
CEO, Penguin Sportwear Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka
As one of the pioneers in the Apparel Industry, we have seen the industry evolve from being Product right to being price right to now being environmentally right.
With a product profile ranging from cut & sew knit jackets , dresses, , sleepwear and t-shirts, we have built long and enduring working relationships with many key US & European clients. Penguin Sportswear was one of the first factories in Sri Lanka to receive the “garments without guilt” certification.
With our manufacturing practices being ethically compliant, we strongly appreciate & value the initiative taken by Mihiri, to launch Sri Lanka’s first sustainable fashion label Redcocoon.
Penguin is proud to be part of the manufacturing process of Redcocoon . This low carbon product, is also helping us d ispose of our post waste in a respectful & sustainable manner.
Julian Davis
Managing Director, Sanchia Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka
Mihiri De Silva has embarked on this mission to re-engineer fabrics into something other than what it was originally intended for.
I, as a person, involved in this industry for well nigh over 35 years, find this sort of thing to be a useful 'tool' in helping out the garment manufacturer as well as the fabric mill, to eliminate their procurement problems of ''left overs''..both before and after production, in their respective areas.
That these left over fabrics can be RE-USED at its original prices, is something exceptional, rather than being 'sold' for a street price...and the result being a truly talented piece of fashion, rather than make something that is cheap and more opportunistic in its approach and is aptly termed "local market".
Lets create an environment of "re-use" as against "re-cycle". Lets make it a fashion.
Cheers to Redcocoon.
Rohantha Athukorala
Head of National Portfolio Development – Sri Lanka & Maldives United Nations Operations (UNOPS) International policy maker, Government of Sri Lanka Ministry Board member, Guest Speaker to Global Economic forums and Columnist in Local and international Media.
Whilst Sri Lanka ’s Apparel exports crossing 3 billion dollars……and the recent challenges we are up against in our core markets of EU and US, these kinds of innovative business strategies is what we require for Sri Lanka . Specially designing systems which are low carbon impact processes will be in line to the climate change trends globally, that will make Sri Lanka to be seen more positive and trendy….
RED Cocoon Sri Lanka Ethical Fashion Designs, Sri Lanka Sustainable Fashion Garments Manufaturer
