Brandix leads apparel industry in tribute to Martin Trust

If any individual can be considered the father of Sri Lanka's emergence as an apparel manufacturer of global significance it would be Martin Trust, as a tribute to whom a coffee table book has been published by the Brandix Group on behalf of the industry and Trust's Sri Lankan business partners.

' Built on Trust' is a 238- page treasury of images and exceptional insight into the founding in 1970 of MAST Industries in the Canton, Massachusetts home of Martin and Dena Trust and what ensued in the four decades that followed, with an emphasis on the role played by Trust in placing Sri Lanka firmly on the world's apparel sourcing map.

Described as 'the story of an industry and a man who helped transform it over four decades,' this unique volume documents the evolution of Sri Lanka's apparel industry through the eyes of two of its present- day giants -- Brandix and MAS Holdings -- as well as through contributions from Trust's closest business associates such as Les Wexner,Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of L Brands, Inc. (formerly Limited Brands), Jack Welch, former Executive Vice President of MAST Industries Inc. and Alok Malhotra, former Managing Director - Indian Subcontinent for Tommy Hilfiger.

A reunion of some of these pioneers took place at the Columbus, Ohio, home of Les Wexner recently when Brandix CEO Ashroff Omar joined Wexner to present the book to Martin Trust. Among the eminent guests present were Charles McGuigan - Chief Operating Officer, L Brands / President, Mast Global, Sharen Turney - CEO, Victoria's Secret, Bruce Soll - SVP/Counsel, L Brands, Denise Landman - CEO Pink, Margaret Macdonald - President, VS Stores, Margaret Wright - EVP Brand Production & Sourcing, L Brands and Jim Schwartz - President and CEO, MGF Sourcing.

Recognised as one of the pioneers of 'speed sourcing' for the American fashion retail sector, Martin Trust founded his first business, Mast Industries, in 1970 with a modest $1,000. In 1978, his company, a contract manufacturer, importer and distributor of clothing, merged with The Limited Stores, later Limited Brands and now L Brands Inc.

'Built on Trust' can be read online by visiting www.brandix.com/builton-trust.pdf