Knitwear manufacturer expands on Broadway

6 May 2010, New York, NY – KBL Group International, one of the largest North American based producers of sweaters, is the latest company in the sector to expand in New York City’s Garment District. The company is following in the footsteps of several other expanding knitwear companies by moving into a significantly larger showroom just a couple of buildings away from its current location.

According to a recent Crain’s report, KBL has signed a six-year lease for 18,000 square feet of space on the sixth floor of 1407 Broadway, between West 38th and 39th streets. The firm’s current showroom, at 1410 Broadway, is said to be slightly more than half the size of its new space of 10,000 square feet. According to the report KBL plans to move into its new quarters in July. Other recent expansions in the knitwear sector include NYC Knitwear and Takeout Sweaters, both of which recently moved to larger premises.

In January this year, Knitting Industry reported that KBL Group International had acquired North Bergen, New Jersey based AR Knitwear and its well known Sweater Project brand. Sweater Project is known for its fashionable sweaters and jackets for teenage girls.

KBL President Steven Begleiter said at the time that Sweater Project’s reputation and KBL’s ability to move high volumes of product through its supply chain would make a good asset.

With facilities in Hong Kong, Mexico, and China, and a knitting capacity of 200,000 dozens per month KBL produces for major brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Bebe, Victoria’s Secret, Nordstrom, L.L. Bean and Liz Claiborne.

The company operates around 1500 Stoll multi gauge machines and produces cables, pointelles, intarsias and jacquards in a range of gauges from 1.5 to 14. The main fibres processed are cotton, cotton blends, wool, wool blends, acrylic, and acrylic blends.

KBL’s Turbo-Knit factory Ltd is located in Fanling, Hong Kong and is a 45,000 square foot facility with 462 knitting machines, 150 workers, and a knitting capacity of 65,000 dozens per month.

The group’s Turbo Knitwear Fashion (Dongguan) Co. Ltd. Which is located Guangdong, China, is a 500,000 square foot facility which is home to 3500 workers. The factory has 590 knitting machines and also has finishes the company’s production from Hong Kong.  This facility has a knitting capacity of 85,000 dozens per month finishing capacity of 150,000 dozens per month.

KBL’s fully computerized North American Distribution Center is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey.