BANGALORE: The Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) is gearing up to launch its bridal collection designed by a city-based professional, Deepika Govind.

KSIC is making 65 such saris in 12 varieties. Each sari will cost between Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 1 lakh.

Efforts are on to launch the collection in a fortnight to coincide with Makara Sankranthi. But KSIC Managing Director P. Vijayan said the progress was slow because three of the six Jacquard looms and a computerised punching machine were being installed. However, work was on using other machines that required a lot of human interface. The collection would be launched by the month-end.

Mr. Vijayan said the KSIC had been making design changes to suit the needs of customers.

A collection designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) was launched in early 2006. The first set would be launched in a fortnight to coincide with Makara Sankranthi.

A loss-making undertaking of the State Government till recently, the KSIC today boasts of ISO 9001-200 certification and has obtained geographical indication registration, thereby ensuring that it can prosecute anyone producing Mysore silk fabric without its permission. It had issued legal notices to 70 traders who had been misusing the brand name, he added.

The KSIC showed profit for the first time in 2005-06 when it earned Rs. 1.72 crore. If its production in the first half of the current financial year is taken into consideration, the KSIC might improve its sales and profits further.

The corporation, which incurred a loss of Rs. 4 crore in 2003-04, brought it down to Rs. 71 lakh in 2004-05.

Mr. Vijayan said Mysore silk is produced from raw silk yarn obtained from cocoons reared in Myore, Kollegal, Ramangaram, Bangalore, Siddalghatta and Kolar.

The KSIC had maintained its reputation by refrain from using Chinese or other imported raw silk. "Mysore silk is 100 per cent pure, natural crepe silk and it has a geographical flavour as it is from the soil of Karnataka only," he said.

Standstill

He said the functioning of the company had virtually come to a standstill on account of continuing losses and shortage of working capital and excess manpower. It was referred to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) in 1995 because of accumulated losses and erosion of its net worth.

The Government ordered restructuring of the corporation in August 2005.

The loss-making filature unit in Kanakapura and Spun Silk Mills in Channapatna were closed down and their employees were offered voluntary retirement scheme. More than 900 employees availed themselves of the scheme.

The outstanding loan of Rs. 22.91 crore due to the Government had been converted into equity.

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