In line with its cardinal vision to produce clothing that can compete with the best designs in the world, the Cross River State government owned garment factory in partnership with Blue Ocean of India, recently unveiled a new range of wears which included T-shirts, boxers, polo, shirts and trousers.
Speaking while inspecting the products at the Calabar Garment Factory, the governor, Prof Ben Ayade said he was proud of the quality of the wears from the factory, which he said will be launched during the 2018 Calabar Carnival.
While disclosing that the wears from the factory will go by the brand name, Callyphina, Ayade said it was the dream of his administration that the factory will dominate the T-shirt market in the country.
Displaying the products to newsmen, the elated governor remarked: “If you look at the finishing and the detailed lining, you will see precision and expertise at work and if you look at the hemming and the final knitting, it just could be a Versace or Gucci or Dolce and Gabbana,” pointing out that “it is exactly the quality we aim to achieve and our hope is to exceed this.”
He said the quality of finishing stood at 70 percent, but assured of more work to be done to get the factory to produce quality for export, maintaining that, “by the time Blue Ocean is ready and we are ready for the export, our quality and brand will be among the best in the entire world.”
Lending his voice to the vision of the garment factory to produce high quality wears for international market, Managing Consultant, Blue Ocean of India, Atul Kakkar, explained that the job specification handled in his two weeks of stay in Calabar was in line with the governor’s vision to create a world class Garment Factory.
Kakkar disclosed that “the samples you are seeing are made by our people here in Calabar, so I am proud to say nothing was done by the Indian team, we were just giving directions. Our people are totally capable and I think they can compete in the fashion industry.”
On when the products will hit the market, the consultant disclosed that the wears will soon be produced in commercial quantity, especially as this year’s biggest street party, Carnival Calabar approaches.
He further added: “We have started approaching government departments, private sector and corporate bodies and they have signified interest to give us their orders. I assure you that this factory has the capacity and capability to become a world class in a year’s time.”
