Maria Grapini, the owner of the textile and clothing manufacturer Pasmatex from Timisoara, announced she would lend her name to the Mary's Style brand, which will become Grapini, an Italian-sounding name, very well received by foreign customers.
"Foreigners are reticent about Romanians; we want to prove them wrong. They come into the shop impressed by the Italian sounding name and are pleasantly surprised when they see we are actually Romanians," Maria Grapini, the chairperson of the Pasmatex's board and its main shareholder of the company told ZIARUL FINANCIAR.
Grapini explains that the changing of the brand-name, launched three years ago, comes as a necessity to ensure the success of the collection abroad, the main outlet for this new brand.
Apparel collections target businesswomen in middle-high management structures, and primarily consist of office attire. Besides such items, Pasmatex also sells underwear, part of the Dreambabe collection. Pasmatex also holds the franchise for Triumph Timisoara and sells clothing for women, children and men branded as Marion.
It launched its new Spring/Summer 2007 collection, Encore Classique at the purchase exhibition in Bucharest on August 28th. This collection is set to go to Paris.
Maria Grapini, 51, is also the chairperson of the Federation of Employers in the Light Industry (FEPAIUS).
Pasmatex's turnover largely relies on exports, which account for up to 80% of the total.
The company has a development plan for the next five years, with Pasmatex relocating production from the centre of Timisoara to a location close to the industrial and technological park of the city.
Relocation costs and the investment in the new facility are put at 3 million euros.
Maria Grapini says the sale of the assets of the former factory is still under negotiation. Pasmatex's owner dismissed rumoured interest from businessman Ion Tiriac in these assets, whose starting price is 12 to 14 million euros.
The potential buyers include a company from Poland, willing to "put a great deal of money into the building of a hotel and of a business centre on the site of the former Pasmatex factory," Grapini says.
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