Speaking to The Financial Express, Venkatesh Sivaraman, Managing Director of Crocodile Products India Limited, said Crocodile's strategic business unit in Thailand is working out details for the successful launch of the premium Cartelo shirts and T-shirts in India.

The launch will be set rolling sometime in September in the `happening city' of Mumbai. The entire fabric for the `Cartelo' range would be imported from Japan and other sources worldwide. As this would incur heavy import duties, the cost of the finished product would be on the higher side: a price tag of Rs 2,000 plus for shirts, while the T-shirts would cost Rs 1,500 plus. The range will be available initially in various shades of whites, bleached in pestle shades.

``Currently, we are not looking at high volumes and to start with the company plans to test market these premium range of shirts and T-shirts in select Crocodile galleries. The test marketing will start in September and will continue till January 2001. A maximum of 2,000 shirts and T-shirts a month will be supplied to select distributors in India. Subsequently, depending on the response from the customers, the brand will be launched all over the country in a big way,''added Venkatesh.

``Worldwide the Cartelo range of readymades come with a plastic card carrying a 12-year warranty. The idea is to introduce the same concept in Indian markets. We are working towards similar other innovative schemes for the Indian market in association with our Thailand unit,'' said Venkatesh.

In addition to the launch of its Cartelo range, Crocodile has also planned a series of other new launches in the coming years. Venkatesh hinted that his company was also looking at the possibility of acquiring a few brands. The company is presently busy working out details for launching kids and ladies wear. Its existing range of products include a wide range of shirts and T-shirts, jeans, socks, leather belts and undergarments.

Crocodile is also expanding its presence in the retail market segment by opening exclusive Crocodile galleries and corners. It already has 14 galleries in place, spread over the southern, western and eastern region.