Reebok's partner in Sri Lanka, DSI Samson is negotiating for the manufacture of shoes locally.
According to Kaushalya Perera, Deputy General Manager-Marketing of DSI Samson's group, samples will be ready in a month and any of their three factories could start production as soon as they get approval.
In Sri Lanka, the shoes, which sells at above SLR 8000, could be slashed down to SLR 5000 making it even more affordable to the local market.
"We have to make our pricing very competitive if we are going to produce it locally and that will also bring a better consumer base," said Perera at the recent launch of the fifth and largest exclusive Reebok store in Colombo.
DSI has 160 footwear showrooms but only 25 sells Reebok products.
All Reebok apparel products and more than half footwear range is currently imported from India with another quarter from other countries.
"We might not be able to produce the products that need the highest technology but whatever India is doing we can do," says Perera.
He also added that DSI is also capable of supplying the Indian market.
Managing Director of Reebok India, Subhinder Singh Prem, was also at the launch of new store said, "I totally disagree with the fact that Third World countries are less interested in brands,".
Fibre2fashion News Desk - Sri Lanka
marketing@alchempro.com
