In the intricate dance of global lingerie production, logistics has long been the unseen corset - structuring, supporting, and shaping the final silhouette. Now, MAS Holdings, the family-owned Sri Lankan titan behind much of the world's finest intimates (including Victoria's Secret, whose 1977 launch redefined American boudoir dressing), is deepening its commitment to the island nation. Alongside logistics partner Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, MAS has broken ground on an 86,000-square-foot facility in Kimbulapitiya, a stone's throw from Bandaranaike International Airport. This dedicated South Asian fashion hub will serve as a third-party logistics nerve center, equipped with dual-zone humidity controls and solar panels - a nod to MAS's ambition that 75 percent of its revenue come from sustainable products by 2030.
The joint venture, Hellmann MAS Supply Chain (HMSC), first laced up in 2018, blending Hellmann's global freight expertise with MAS's deep knowledge of apparel - from the elasticized precision of sportswear to the delicate engineering of lace and microfibers. This new hub is not just a warehouse; it is a strategic pivot. As Shakthi Ranatunge, MAS COO, put it, the facility allows the company to move "beyond traditional garment manufacturing" into integrated, end-to-end solutions. This evolution comes at a fraught moment for Sri Lankan textiles: March exports fell 11.2 percent year over year, battered by fuel and electricity cost spikes. Yet, as MAS recently shuttered a cut-and-sew factory affecting 2,200 workers, this investment signals a shift toward higher-value, agile logistics - the kind that once made Sri Lanka a vital node in the global corsetry trade. In an industry where fit and speed are everything, this hub promises to tighten the supply chain's stay.
Originally reported by WWD