Israeli cops get Made in Kerala uniforms

Around 1L uniforms are sent to Israel annually

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 25: Why are officers of the Israeli police force travelling all the way to a nondescript town in north Kerala in frequent intervals? Because, their elegant light blue, long- sleeve uniform shirts are being stitched at an apparel unit in Kannur, which has the glorious tradition of handloom making and textile export.

Hundreds of tailors at the Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited, operating at the industrial park at Valiyavelicham in the district, are toiling hard to get the smart looking uniforms ready for the Israel police force.

They not only stitch the double- pocket shirts but also design and attach the trademark emblems on its sleeves. The local dressmakers have been supplying nearly one lakh shirts annually to the Israeli police for the last three years. Owned by Thodupuzha- based businessman Thomas Olickal, the company also bagged the orders for supplying uniforms for Kuwait’s fire service and national guard. If everything goes as planned, the Maryan Apparel would soon start stitching uniforms for the Philippine Army, a top company official said. “We are supplying uniform shirts to the Israeli police- both men and women officers- for the last three years,” Sijin Kumar, accounts and administration manger of the company said.

“Earlier, we used to supply trousers also. But, the order for it was bagged by a Chinese firm recently.

We hope that we will get the contract back at the earliest and discussions are going on in this regard,” he said. Launched at the state- run Kinfra Park here in 2006, the company specialises in uniforms of army men, police personnel, security officers and health service workers of many nations across the globe.

Owned by Keralabased businessman, Maryan Apparel also bagged orders for supplying uniforms for Kuwait’s fire service department