East 10^th Of Ramadan City, EGYPT--Kozman Group has turned to building its export business in the wake of the revolution in Egypt according to Sabry Kozman, principal and general manager of this 70 year old mill here.

“We’re very strong in the local market now in turmoil and our currency is depreciating, so we thought that now would be a good time to build our export base beyond our current markets of Cyprus and South Africa.” Sabry participated in the Home Textile Sourcing Show at Javits Center in New York this past summer organized by Messe Frankfurt USA.

“We need U.S. dollars even though we sell most of the five star hotels in Egypt. We are also an approved Trevira®CS supplier.” Sabry is searching for agents right now, especially in the USA. His sister Amira is heading the search effort since she is already based in the USA in New York.

The mill produces upholstery in the $5-$13 range per meter and $2.50-$20 per meter in drapery. Minimums are in the 200 meter range. Based on the Q12 agreement with the USA, the fabric can be shipped duty free from Egypt which makes it quite competitive according to Sabry.

Kozman was started by Sabry’s grandfather who was a trader in Azar, Egypt and then the second generation of Sabry’s father and uncle started the current upholstery mill in 1994.  Sabry is partners with his sister Amira and cousin Karim.

The mill specializes in embroidered curtain fabric and jacquard upholstery. It is integrated yarn forward with a dye house started in 2006 and 58 Picanol and Somet looms based in the duty free zone in Ramadan City. The average age of the looms is five years, Sabry said.