ARVIND MILLS History

The year 1930 was when the world suffered the great depression. Companies across the globe began closing down. In UK and in India, the textile industry in particular was in trouble. At about this time, Mahatma Gandhi championed the Swadeshi Movement and at his call, people from all across India began boycotting fine and superfine fabrics, which had so far been imported from England. In the midst of this depression one family saw opportunity. The Lalbhais reasoned that the demand for fine and superfine fabrics still existed. And any Indian company that met this demand would surely prosper. The three brothers, Kasturbhai, Narottambhai and Chimanbhai, decided to set up a mill to produce superfine fabric. Next they looked around for state-of-the-art machinery that could produce such high quality fabric. Their search ended in England. The best technology of that time was acquired at a most attractive price. And a company called Arvind Limited was born. Arvind Limited started with a share capital of Rs 2,525,000 ($55,000) in the year 1931. With the aim of manufacturing the high-end superfine fabrics Arvind invested in very sophisticated technology. With 52,560 ring spindles, 2552 doubling spindles and 1122 looms it was one of the few companies in those days to start along with spinning and weaving facilities in addition to full-fledged facilities for dyeing, bleaching, finishing and mercerizing. The sales in the year 1934, three years after establishment were Rs 45.76 lakh and profits were Rs 2.82 lakh. Steadily producing high quality fabrics, year after year, Arvind took its place amongst the foremost textile units in the country. In the mid 1980s the textile industry faced another major crisis. With the power loom churning out vast quantities of inexpensive fabric, many large composite mills lost their markets, and were on the verge of closure. Yet that period saw Arvind at its highest level of profitability. There could be no better time, concluded the Management, for a rethink on strategy. The Arvind management

coined a new word for it new strategy Reno vision. It simply meant a new way of looking at issues, of seeing more than the obvious and that became the corporate philosophy.

The national focus paved way for international focus and Arvinds markets shifted from domestic to global, a market that expected and accepted only quality goods. An in-depth analysis of the world textile market proved an eye opener. People the world over were shifting from synthetic to natural fabrics. Cottons were the largest growing segments. But where conventional wisdom pointed to popular priced segments, Reno vision pointed to high quality premium niches. Thus in 1987-88 Arvind entered the export market for two sections -Denim for leisure & fashion wear and high quality fabric for cotton shirting and trousers. By 1991 Arvind reached 1600 million meters of Denim per year and it was the third largest producer of Denim in the world.

In 1997 Arvind set up a state-of-the-art shirting, gabardine and knits facility, the largest of its kind in India, at Santej. With Arvinds concern for environment a most modern effluent treatment facility with zero effluent discharge capability was also established.

Year 2005 was a watershed year for textiles. With the muliti-fiber agreement getting phased out and the disbanding of quotas, international textile trade was poised for a quantum leap. In the domestic market too, the rationalizing of the cenvat chain and the growth of the organized retail industry was likely to make textiles and apparel see an explosive growth.

Arvind has carved out an aggressive strategy to verticalize its current operations by setting up worldscale garmenting facilities and offering a one-stop shop service, by offering garment packages to its international and domestic customers. With Lee, Wrangler, Arrow and Tommy Hilfiger and its own domestic brands of Flying Machine, Newport, Excalibur and Ruf & Tuf, Arvind set its vision of becoming the largest apparel brands company in India.

FOUNDING FATHERS The Lalbhais A Historical Perspective The Lalbhais can trace their descent from Seth Shantidas (c.15901659), who was a dominant figure in the business and civic life of the city. He enjoyed the patronage of the Moghul emperors to whom he was a trusted jeweler. Shantidas was amongst the prominent financers of his time as well. He played an influential role amongst the Jain community of his time, and it was because of his influence at the Moghul court that Shah Jehan confirmed the rights of the Jains over the ancient shrines of Shetrunjaya. His grandson, Khushalchand, (1680- 1748) too occupied a place of prominence in the business and social life of the city. He saved the city of Ahmedabad from the marauding Maratha army in 1725 by paying a ransom of Rs. 5 Lakh on behalf of the whole city. For this act the grateful mahajans promised in perpetuity, a small amount collected as town duties on goods entering the city to Khushalchand and his family, and the title of Nagarsheth was bestowed upon him.

The current surname, Lalbhai, is derived from Lalbhai Dalpatbhai the great great great grandson of Khushalchand. Lalbhai was born around the time when the first textile factory in the city went into production. The first manufacturing company of the Lalbhai family, Saraspur

Manufacturing Company was established in 1897. It started with producing cotton yarn. During the intensifying Swadeshi movement the second company Raipur Mills was established in 1905. Due to untimely death Lalbhai Dalpatbhai the reins of his businesses were handed over to his young sons including a seventeen-year-old Kasturbhai Lalbhai. Kasturbhai started the first large scale textile mill under the name of Asoka Mills in 1920 with a capital of Rs.12 Lakh at a time when the largest mills in the region were built with not more than Rs. 5 Lakh. 1930-31 saw the resurgence of second Swadeshi movement coinciding with the great depression. While different entrepreneurs reacted to the situation differently Kasturbhai saw this as the decade of prosperity and growth and established the flagship Arvind Limited in 1931 with an authorized capital of Rs. 25.25 Lakh. Kasturbhai had also floated mills for families of his three sisters under the name of Aruna Mills in 1928 and Nutan Mills in 1931 and Ahmedabad New Cotton Mills in 1938.

With the expansion Kasturbhai came to occupy the position of the biggest textile magnate in the country. Few groups could claim to have made such great strides during one of the worst periods in Indias industrial history. After a continuously successful period of four decades in the pre-independence era, the group entered into other fields such as dyes, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc. The first diversification started in 1939 with Anil Starch Limited. Atul Products Limited was established in 1952 for manufacturing textilerelated chemicals and dyestuff. Atul formed joint ventures with CibaGeigy called Cibatul, with American Cynamid called Cynamid of India and with ICI of UK called Atic Industries. As time progressed the JV partners separated amicably and these companies exist in India today as full representatives of these global giants.

With the retirement of Kasturbhai and his younger brother Narottambhai from active business, the role of the patriarch fell on the shoulders of Arvindbhai. He along with his brother Niranjanbhai and his cousins Ashokbhai, Ajaybhai, Chinubhai and Vijaysinhbhai looked into the running of the textile mills, Siddharthbhai headed Atul Products, and Shrenikbhai, Anil starch. The group took over a sick company called Ahmedabad Laxmi Cotton Mills Co. Ltd. and merged with Arvind Limited and the unit was renamed as Ankur Textiles. The unit currently under Arvind Products Limited is today the countrys largest organized player in the voiles market. The group also invested in Anup Engineering Limited engaged in fabrication and set up Amol Dicalite in collaboration with General Refractories Limited, U.S.A for manufacturing filter aids and perlite products. With the third generation of Lalbhais retiring from business Sanjay, Sunil and Samveg Lalbhai, the fourth generation of Lalbhais, now oversee all the businesses.

Apart from the field of business the Lalbhais over generations have contributed to education, social and religious causes. Their contribution to education starting from Gujarat Vernacular Society in late 1800s to the formation of Ahmedabad Education Society, (1936), which governs 11 leading colleges and 6 schools, and 4 other educational programs. Kasturbhai Lalbhai played a key role in establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (1948), ATIRA (1947) and the famed IIM Ahmedabad (1961). The Lalbhai family has been closely associated with the Jain trust called Anandji Kalyanji Trust, which is involved in propagating and maintaining Jain temples in western India. Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai headed the trust for 50 years, followed by Shrenik Lalbhai for 30 years, and now, Samveg Lalbhai heads the trust. Sanjay Lalbhai heads Sharda Trust Arvinds CSR vehicle. Arvind is committed to upgrading the standard of municipal

schools in Ahmedabad and work towards building a pool of bright employable youth.

JOURNEY 2010 Arvind launches The Arvind Store, a concept putting the companys best fabrics, brands and bespoke styling and tailoring solutions under one roof. Arvind launches its first major Real Estate projects. Arvind becomes one of Indias largest producers of fire protection fabrics.c.

2007 Arvind expands its presence in the brands and retail segment by establishing MegaMart One of Indias largest value retail chains.

2005 Arvind creates a unique one-stop shop service on a global scale, offering garment packages to reputed national and international customers.

1997 Indias largest state-of-the-art facility for shirting, gabardine and knits is set up at Santej.

1991

Arvind emerges as the third largest manufacturer of denim in the world.

1987-88 Arvind enters the export market for Denims with a dual focus Denim for leisure and Denim for fashion wear.

1980 Arvind records highest levels of profitability. The new strategy Reno vision, points at changing the business focus from local to global, towards a high-quality premium niche market.

1934 Arvind establishes itself amongst the foremost textile units in the country.

1931 The inception of Arvind Mills Limited at the hands of three brothers Kasturbhai, Narottambhai and Chimanbhai Lalbhai

Arvind is amongst a few organizations worldwide with a portfolio of brands that are distinctive and relevant across diverse consumers. At Arvind, brands work across multiple channels, price points and consumer segments.

Own Brands Mainstream Excalibur Flying Machine

Popular Ruff & Tuff New Port University

Licensed Brands Bridge to Luxury Gant, U.S.A. 1949

Premium USPA SansaBelt Izod

Arrow

Popular Cherokee

Joint Venture Brands Bridge to Luxury Tommy Hilfiger

Premium Lee Wrangler

Popular Wrangler Hero Riders