Star Garments Group wins Best Exporter – Apparel under Medium Category at the 26th Presidential Export Awards

Star Garments Group (“Star”), a powerhouse in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and the only group of apparel companies to be certified as carbon neutral across all its processes, was honored with the prestigious Best Exporter – Apparel Medium award at the 26th Presidential Export Awards 2023/24.

The annual awards, widely regarded as the country’s highest national accolade celebrating outstanding exporters with exceptional growth and performance, is organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). Star’s win reaffirms its excellence in apparel exports and its strong commitment towards innovation and sustainability.

“This recognition inspires us to keep setting new benchmarks in quality, sustainability, and global competitiveness,” said A. Sukumaran, Managing Director of Star Garments Group. “Our vision has always been to transform the apparel industry by seamlessly integrating sustainability with advanced technology, reinforcing our position as a trusted partner to world-class brands.’’

Star has continuously evolved to meet the changing demands of international markets and continues to expand both within and outside of Sri Lanka, including recent local acquisitions and the upcoming $15 million state-of-the-art apparel factory in Togo. 

Catering to globally renowned brands, Star operates 12 production facilities and employs over 10,000 associates, with a capacity of producing approximately 1.6 million pieces monthly..

The company has embraced sustainability as a core principle, implementing eco-friendly initiatives such as biodiversity restoration projects, energy-efficient manufacturing processes, waste reduction strategies, and grassroot collaborations. The Star Innovation Center in Katunayake is the first LEED Platinum building in Sri Lanka to be certified under the latest LEED version 4 and is regarded as the first ‘Passive House Design’ in Southeast Asia.

With a strong focus on research and development, automation, and sustainable sourcing, Star has positioned itself as a key player in the global apparel supply chain. Contributing to Sri Lanka’s global competitiveness in R&D-driven manufacturing, some of its efforts include investments in patented 100% sustainable dyes and shortening the development cycle by over 30 percent through the utilization of virtual prototyping platforms. 

Star ensures Sri Lanka's apparel exports maintain a high-value proposition compared to other peers in the region. The group has also consecutively been ranked as one of Sri Lanka’s best workplaces in manufacturing by Great Place to Work. Recently, Star also secured top honors at the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) Export Awards, winning the Gold Award in the Apparel - Large Category.

Photo Caption:

1. A Sukumaran, Managing Director of Star Garments Group (left) receiving the award