About Us
Ankur Textiles
Ankur Textiles is part of the illustrious Arvind Group and specializes in voiles, rather it is India’s largest organized manufacturer of Lifestyle voiles! Voile is a soft sheer fabric and majorly used in dress-making and soft furnishings. Going with the latest trends in the world of fashion we have a unique focus on ethnic segment and ladies dress material. We can proudly say that we have mastered the art of making the best voiles in the world!
We cater to the growing need through a network of around 150 dealers, reaching over 7500 retail outlets throughout India. Our high quality Swiss voiles are exported to Switzerland, Sri Lanka and countries in the Middle East.
We provide tailor-made products as per customized requirements to our customers from around the world. We use a wide range of fabric types (Cotton, PC, PV, Ramie etc.) to make voiles. By using the latest technology we have developed the capability of diverse colours matching and we can proudly say that this has become our USP. We also deliver wide range of printed fabric. The width of fabric that we can offer ranges from 36" to 58".
Inception
In early 1930’s India was fully dependent on imports for fine and superfine fabrics. As Mahatma Gandhi had launched the Swadeshi Movement, people had started boycotting foreign goods. Going by the spirits the Lalbhai brothers saw an opportunity in manufacturing of fine and superfine in India. Thus, was born, ARVIND LIMITED, which went on to revolutionise the textile industry in India and remain the Pioneer.
Reno-vision
In the mid 1980’s when the textile industry was facing another major crisis Arvind Group thought of another revolution in the Textile industry and aptly named it -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 new mantra was Go-Global!
Denim was the key, by 1991 Arvind became the third largest producer of Denim in the world!
Expansion
In 1997 Arvind set up a state-of-the-art shirting, bottom weights and knits facility, the largest of its kind in India, at Santej. With our growing global footprints, Arvind has carved a niche with brand names like Arrow, Flying Machine, USPA, New Port, Mega Mart and The Arvind Store.
Today, Arvind has diversified into other major segments like Fabrics, Garments, Advanced Materials, Chemicals & Dyes, Retail, Engineering, Real Estate, Sustainable Agriculture and Telecom.
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 country’s largest organized player in the voiles market.
Founding Father's( The Lalbhais - A Historical Perspective )
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. 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 India’s 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 textile-related chemicals and dyestuff. Atul formed joint ventures with Ciba-Geigy 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 country’s 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 1800’s 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 – Arvind’s CSR vehicle. Arvind is committed to upgrading the standard of municipal schools in Ahmedabad and work towards building a pool of bright employable youth.
Our Philosophy
We will enable people to experience a better quality of life by providing enriching and inspiring lifestyle solutions'.
WE BELIEVEIn people and their unlimited potential; in content and in focus on problem solving; in teams for effective performance, in the power of the intellect.
WE ENDEAVOUR
To select, train and coach people to obtain higher responsibilities; to nurture talent, and to build leaders for the corporations of tomorrow; to reward, celebrate and activate all intellectual business contributions.
WE DREAM
Of excellence in all endeavors; of mutual benefit and prosperity; of making the world a better place to live in.
Styles may be short lived, but for well over seven decades Arvind has been defining and shaping many a collection and trendsetting styles across the ramps and retail outlets of the fashion capitals of the world.
Time and again we have been called to produce some of the finest fabrics and exacting dresses for some of the world's most quality conscious brands - while evolving our own extensive brand portfolio.
Arvind is today synonymous with a vast range of lifestyles products - be it fabrics or brands.