Major makeover for Cape Town clothing manufacturer

House of Monatic (HoM), the clothing design, sourcing, marketing, manufacturing and distribution, subsidiary of JSE-listed Brimstone Investment Corporation (Brimstone), has announced a R3-million upgrade of its shirt factory in Salt River, Cape Town. This follows the multi-million upgrades of the group jacket, trouser line and cutting room facilities over the last few years.

HoM Chairman, Fred Robertson, says the upgrades will allow the company to compete effectively with international clothing manufacturers and contribute to the sustainability of the clothing manufacturing sector in the Western Cape.

“Brimstone believes very strongly in contributing to sustainable job creation and preservation. It has contributed directly to the saving of over 600 jobs in the clothing industry where it has already rescued three failing firms.

"We are also actively involved in leading House of Monatic which employs roughly 1800 people, in these initiatives.”

Thumbs up from SACTWU

According to Andre Kriel Deputy General Secretary of the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU): "It is critical for its long term sustainability and global competiveness that the industry continuously modernises and upgrades its capital equipment. More important is that the industry takes the decisive lead in this regard, while we still wait anxiously for government to implement the long agreed clothing and textile Customised Sector Programme. In this context, the ... Union welcomes the announcement and congratulates House of Monatic on this important vote of confidence in our industry.”

Previous upgrades

“We have been upgrading various sections of our production facility over the last 6 years. Initially our jacket and trouser line was upgraded followed by the cutting room with the purchase of fabric spreading machines and subsequently computerised automatic cutting machines,” says Mike Maurer, financial director of HoM. “The shirt factory was the next part of this holistic upgrade.”

Outside advice

Maurer says HoM called in Swiss consultants, Iseli Production Systems to look at its shirt factory with a view to enhancing productivity. Iseli have installed various shirt manufacturing facilities in Europe, including Hugo Boss. “Their brief was to do a work study and make recommendations with regard to sewing techniques, work flow and material handling. This has culminated in an investment of Euro 250,000 (R3 million) in a material hanging system and various items of cutting, sewing and pressing equipment together with modifications to existing machines by the addition of various gadgets and attachments to enhance productivity.”

Skills upgrade

He adds that Iseli has been to the Salt River-based facility several times to see the factory layout, work flow and training which form an integral part of the upgrade. “The upgrade of worker skills and changes to current production methods such as new work techniques is as important as the hardware purchased.”

Independent market positioning

The improvements in quality and efficiency resulting from the upgrades are a crucial part of the manufacturer's strategy of being a prominent brand house. “By continually adapting to both local and international trends and ongoing capital investment, it is today positioned as one of the pre-eminent producers of fine tailoring to all the premier stockists in South Africa. The company ... has three production units for suits, trousers and shirts under its brands Carducci, Carducci C², Carducci Woman, Viyella, Monatic and Lyle & Scott. These brands give House of Monatic a position in the marketplace that guarantees its independence against chain store house brands and cheap imports."

He says HoM continually updates its fabrics and styling to meet changes in the marketplace: “Regular travel to international fairs and liaison with fabric suppliers ensure that we lead the market in this area. The styling covers both the young such as Carducci C² and the sophisticated i.e. Viyella.”

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