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The Textile Magazine
SEPTEMBER 2011
advanced effluent treatment facility
with zero effluent discharge capa-
bility was also established.
The year 2005 was a watershed
year for textiles. With the Multi-
Fibre Agreement (MFA) being
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 growth of the organized retail
industry was likely to make tex-
tiles and apparel see an explosive
growth.
Arvind has carved out an ag-
gressive strategy to verticalize its
current operations by setting up
world-scale garmenting facili-
ties and offering a one-stop shop
service with 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 has set its vision
of becoming the largest apparel
brands company in India.
The Lalbhais
The Lalbhais can trace their de-
scent from Seth Shantidas (c.1590-
1659), who was a dominant figure
in the business and civic life of the
city. He enjoyed the patronage of
the Moghul emperors as their trust-
ed jeweller. Shantidas was among
the prominent financers of his time
as well. He played an influential
role among the Jain community.
His influence at the Moghul court
resulted in Shah Jehan confirming
the Jains’ rights over the ancient
shrines of Shetrunjaya. His grand-
son, Khushalchand (1680-1748)
too occupied a place of promi-
nence 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 lakhs on behalf
of the whole city. For this act, the
grateful “mahajans” promised in
perpetuity a small amount collect-
ed as town duties on goods enter-
ing the city. The title of Nagarsheth
was bestowed upon him as a ges-
ture of thanksgiving.
The current surname, Lalbhai, is
derived from Lalbhai Dalpatbhai,
history