The company De MiHlus, one of the largest Brazilian lingerie manufacturers, has plans for increasing their exports in 2006 and is looking for new clients in the Arab market. Currently only Lebanon is part of the list of 20 countries to which the company exports.
“Our aim is to increase our production by 20%. This way, we hope also to increase our exports,’ stated the company’s exports director, Eva Goldman.
According to her, De Millus exports between two to three times per year to a distributor in Lebanon since 2002. However, the volume is still small, approximately US$ 20,000. “We are open to new contacts in the Arab market,” said Eva.
The main products shipped to the Arab country are panties, bras aNd girdles in the most basic models, without lace or embroidery. As well as Lebanon, the company has already exported to the United Arab Emirates.
“In 2005 there was an increase of 35% if our revenue,” she added. the company makes 100,000 articles per day.
According to Eva, the company has been investing in creating elaborate pieces, such as bras with an under wire, foam filling, embroideries and lace. For such, 750 new seamstresses were hired in 2005.
“I believe the tendency is to increase the sales of these products also to the foreign market,” she stated. De Millus employs 3,600 workers and counts on two factories, one in Rio de Janeiro, in the southeast, and another in Paraíba, in the northeast of Brazil.
De Millus was founded in 1947, in Rio de Janeiro, and makes underwear for children as of the age of 8, for teenagers and adults.
As well as panties and bras, the company manufactures accessories such as modelers and extensors, nightgowns, short pajamas, panty hoses and men’s underwear. Every two months the company releases a new collection, which has in average 20 pieces.
Since 2002 the company is commanded by Abdalla Haddad$ grandson of Syrian immigrants. Two years ago he was in the Arab country, visiting relatives.
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