LOS ANGELES — Jalate Ltd. reported first quarter earnings more than doubled to $630,000, or 25 cents a share, from $265,000, or 11 cents, a year ago.
Sales for the quarter ended March 31 grew 59.3 percent to $14.3 million from $9 million.
Larry Brahim, chief executive officer, attributed the results to aggressive sales in all product lines — knits, sportswear and dresses as well as in its private label segment. Its knit division, Lajate, accounted for 44 percent of the volume done in branded lines, while Zanoni, the dress line, contributed 37 percent. The company’s woven sportswear division, Pottery, accounted for the remaining19 percent.
Brahim said that the results for the quarter also reflected the company’s use of local contractors for manufacturing, allowing better service than overseas production and also holding down costs that would be entailed in building a larger production force.