Garment-Manufacturing Operations Resume in Egypt
Israeli private-label apparel maker Delta Galil reopened its Egyptian factories after a one-week shutdown during the widespread protests in Egypt.
Founded in 1975, Delta Gabril produces intimate apparel and men’s furnishings, babywear, leisurewear, and nightwear for retail giants Marks & Spencer, Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart and JCPenney, as well as apparel brands Calvin Klein, Nike, Hugo Boss and Pierre Cardin. The company also has licensing agreements with Wilson, Maidenform, Nicole Miller, Barbie and Tommy Hilfiger.
Cairo-based apparel and retail conglomerate Arafa Holding—whose clients include Zara, JCPenney, Macy’s, Banana Republic and Gap—announced that it is back up to 95 percent production capacity.
The company, which operates a large factory, headquartered 30 miles outside of Cairo, said none of its orders were canceled.
The protests, which called for President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, began on Jan. 25, but Arafa said its factories were up and running by Jan. 29.
Work shifts are running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 30 minutes shorter than normal, but they will be lengthened in line with curfew adjustments, which are in effect right now between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The company said it expects a shipment lag of about one week because of back-up traffic at the country’s ports. But orders currently are being shipped by air and sea.
