Ciel Textile, based in Mauritius, is a supplier to fashion labels including Ralph Lauren, Levi Strauss and Marks & Spencer. The company produces about 20 million shirts a year.

Rising demand is being fuelled by a return to offices in financial centers such as New York and London. Employees are refreshing their formal wardrobes. Ciel Textile’s revenue surged 48 per cent in the year through June while profits advanced 19 per cent. The manufacturer is taking a cautious approach to short-term forecasts, though, due to the high probability of a global recession.

After starting in Mauritius 50 years ago and growing into the country’s biggest textile producer, the company invested in new factories in Madagascar, Bangladesh and India.

India is the firm’s main production center with seven factories and 9,000 employees, helping to position Ciel Textile as a global supplier. The group also makes fabrics and knitwear.

Mauritius is a country which can boast of having one of the best infrastructures in Africa. The textile and clothing industry of Mauritius is into knitwear, children’s wear, trousers etc. But knitwear is where it excels in and enjoys international prowess. Mauritius has quite a few vertically integrated units. The country is developing the capability and capacity to cater to the needs of global buyers.