Major Player in Textile Industry
MAJOR PLAYERS IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY THE ARVIND MILLS
The Lalbhais can trace their descent from Seth Shantidas (c.1590-1659), who was a dominant figure in the business and civic life of the city. 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. At about this time, Mahatma Gandhi championed the Swadeshi Movement and at his call, people from all India began boycotting fine and superfine fabrics, which had so far been imported from England. 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 1980’s 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. In 1997 Arvind set up a state-of-the-art shirting, gabardine and knits facility, the
The Lalbhais can trace their descent from Seth Shantidas (c.1590-1659), who was a dominant figure in the business and civic life of the city. 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. At about this time, Mahatma Gandhi championed the Swadeshi Movement and at his call, people from all India began boycotting fine and superfine fabrics, which had so far been imported from England. 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 1980’s 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. In 1997 Arvind set up a state-of-the-art shirting, gabardine and knits facility, the