Bharat Tex 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from February 14-17, served as a crucial platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to converge and chart the course for the future of textiles. As a NextGen Partner, Shahi Exports played a prominent role, driving conversations around sustainability, technological advancements, and workforce development.
Prime Minister Modi’s Visit and Interaction
Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Shahi’s display and discussed the future of the textile industry with Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson at Shahi Exports. They explored strategies to advance sustainability, technology, and workforce development.
Reflecting on the industry’s direction, Harish Ahuja stated, “The future of India’s textile sector lies in collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. Platforms like Bharat Tex provide valuable opportunities for industry and policymakers to work together. We appreciate the government’s initiatives and remain dedicated to contributing to this shared vision.”
The Prime Minister also had the opportunity to meet Harshwati, a worker trained under the Samarth scheme. Harshwati shared her inspiring story of transformation, demonstrating how skill development programs can create real employment opportunities. She explained how 40 days of free skill training empowered her to operate various machines and become a skilled worker at Shahi, giving her a sense of independence and pride. Expressing her gratitude, she said, “Mai SAMARTH se Samarth ho gayi hu (SAMARTH has empowered me).”
Government Engagement Underscores Collaborative Approach
Key government officials visited Shahi’s stall over four days. Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of Textiles; Smt. Neelam Shamirrao, Secretary; Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary; Shri Ajay Gupta, Joint Secretary; and Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for Textiles engaged in discussions. These interactions reinforced the importance of industry-government collaboration to drive growth and innovation in textiles.
Bringing the Manufacturer’s Perspective to Industry Panels
Our leaders participated in key panel discussions addressing industry challenges and opportunities.
Harish Ahuja discussed manufacturing growth at ‘Scaling up Textile Manufacturing in India: Grabbing Opportunities, Addressing Challenges’ by KPMG.
Anand PB, Director, Corporate Affairs, explored investment opportunities at ‘Unlocking Karnataka’s Growth Potential: Investment Opportunities in a Progressive Ecosystem’ by the Karnataka State Government.
Anant Ahuja, Director of ESG and Sustainability, spoke at ‘Sustainable Futures: Collaborative Pathways’ conducted by NIFT.
These sessions brought a range of partners and key stakeholders together from across the supply chain to discuss critical aspects of sustainability, supply chain complexities, industry roles in decarbonization, and government collaboration.
Shahi’s NextGen Display: Innovation and Legacy
Shahi’s stall embodied its legacy of excellence and its next-gen approach to manufacturing. The Milestones Wall illustrated key achievements, mapping the company’s journey in the textile industry. The product display featured cutting-edge fabrics designed for both innovation and environmental responsibility. As a NextGen Partner, Shahi continues to push the boundaries of textile manufacturing, integrating tradition with modern advancements.
At the Sustainability Pavilion: A Five Elements Approach
Inspired by Prime Minister Modi’s vision for Mission LiFE—”Mission LiFE borrows from the past, operates in the present, and focuses on the future”—the Sustainability Pavilion depicted initiatives by Indian industries that resonate with the five elements. Shahi demonstrated its commitment to representing the element Fire (अग्नि), signifying Energy and Transformation to this vision. Empowering employees through transparent grievance redressal systems and multilingual communication reflects our commitment to the energy of transformation, driving innovation and collaboration.
Bharat Tex 2025 provided valuable engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders. We are grateful to all visitors and partners for their insightful discussions. Looking ahead, Shahi remains dedicated to innovation, sustainability, and strengthening India’s position as a global textile leader.
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2024. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2023, 2022.
4 September | Innovation and Technology Symposium 2024
Anant Ahuja, Director of ESG and Sustainability, participated as a speaker at the HKRITA – The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited’s I&T Symposium 2024. The symposium explored turning lab innovations into real-world applications that drive meaningful change across fashion and textiles.
Anant’s session on ‘Scaling Innovation in Textile Manufacturing’ highlighted Shahi’s collaborative efforts with HKRITA in developing Aborboost- a cellulosic superabsorbent polymer (C-SAP) made from cotton textile waste. This development underscores the need for a closed loop in textile waste management systems that help farmers and the environment.
30 August | Indian Manufacturing Leadership Forum
Anant Ahuja attended the International Manufacturing Leadership Forum, organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce (FICCI). The forum focused on strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness. Industry leaders gathered to discuss challenges and strategies that can position India as a global manufacturing hub.
The discussions explored actionable steps to advance the Make in India vision. Participants also called for supportive government policies. The event emphasized collaborative efforts essential for building a robust manufacturing ecosystem that boosts India’s global economic standing.
23 August | Finance Leadership Dialogue
Mayank Kumar, CFO of the Ladies Speciality Division (LSD), represented Shahi at the second edition of the Finance leadership dialogue hosted by the Financial Express in association with Oracle.
The dialogue saw an exchange of ideas on ‘Technological Innovation Changing Financial Landscape.’ Several industry leaders came together to discuss the impact of technology in a digital-first era. They explored the shifting nature of a CFO’s role, emphasizing the incorporation of innovation and analytics by the businesses. The dialogue aimed to foster collaboration to address key challenges and identify opportunities in today’s evolving financial landscape.
5 August | The Good Business Forum: Redesigning the Bottom Line
Shahi participated in ‘The Good Business Forum: Redesigning the Bottom Line’ event organized by Good Business Lab at the Bangalore International Centre. The forum brought together industry leaders and innovators to explore the impact of worker well-being on global competitiveness.
Anant Ahuja opened the event with a keynote on sustainable practices. Shahi’s involvement extended to two panels. Senior GM Chitra Prasad joined the panel titled ‘Shared value creation requires co-designing with stakeholders’, discussing collaborative designs for behavioral change with peers from RISE and TATA Motors.
In another panel, ‘Worker voices empower business transformation’, Shahi’s S.R. Divya, Operator, and Shabana Banu, IE Assistant, shared their insights, underscoring the importance of worker voices in the evolution of a business.
28 June | Stitching Sustainability: Change With Every Thread
Kritika Chauhan, Manager of ESG & Innovations, participated in a panel discussion at the “Stitching Sustainability: Change With Every Thread” event organized by Saahas and GIZ. She spoke about Shahi’s waste management and circular models for textile waste.
Kritika emphasized the importance of R&D, innovation, and embracing recycled materials along with the potential of bringing new technologies to India.
The event focused on sustainable practices in the textile industry, exploring opportunities and charting a path forward.
27 June | GBL X SLCP | Human Rights Due Diligence: Impacts and Opportunities for Indian Suppliers
Srinivasa Rao Venkatesh, Chief Compliance Officer, attended a panel discussion on Human Rights Due Diligence: Impacts and Opportunities for Indian Suppliers along with the speakers from GBL, SLCP and Gokaldas Exports.
The panel emphasized supporting suppliers and understanding their perspectives, highlighting the role of social compliance tools and grievance solutions in meeting requirements and fostering business success. They underscored the transformative impact of effective communication with workers and grievance redressal mechanisms on organizational change and benefits.
Mr. Rao mentioned transitioning from diversity to convergence to improve due diligence. Shahi established a governance team to oversee worker risk, health, safety, and compliance, leading to the development of Inache, a platform aligned with global standards for worker empowerment.
14 June | TESCO Supplier Summit 2024
Shahi attended the Tesco Supplier Summit in Bengaluru, where we actively engaged in key panel discussions. Chitra Prasad, Senior General Manager of Organizational Development, shared valuable insights on gender, supply chain, and labor agency management. Additionally, Puja Tickoo, Executive Vice President of the Ladies Speciality Division, discussed Shahi’s commitment to responsible business growth by integrating environmental sustainability into all stages of production.
22 May | Global Fashion Summit 2024
Our Managing Director and Chairperson, Harish Ahuja, represented Shahi at this year’s Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition, presented by Global Fashion Agenda.
In the panel discussion, ‘Collective Financing Models for Climate,’ he underscored the universal challenge of decarbonization and highlighted the potential learning from other industries to gain valuable insights. He emphasized the necessity of collaborative solutions in the fashion sector, including alignment on decarbonization goals.
Harish stressed the need for brands and retailers to collectively finance research and innovation to address unsolved challenges, such as renewable energy storage and efficient order placement to prevent overproduction.
Venkat Rao, Chief Compliance Officer, participated in the panel ‘The SLCP Process & System’ organized by the Social & Labor Convergence Program. The panel discussed the SLCP process and system, covering topics such as the assessment process, timeline, and how to effectively navigate and maximize the use of the Gateway and Accredited Host platforms.
6 April | ‘Sustainability: Balancing People, Profits, and Planet’ hosted by Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (SNIoE)
Anant Ahuja, Head of ESG, participated at the Annual Economics Conclave – Iqtisadiyyat’24 hosted by Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (SNIoE).
In his keynote address on ‘Sustainability: Balancing People, Profits, and Planet,’ he discussed integrating sustainable business practices within manufacturing industries, highlighting the necessity of balancing profitability with responsible operations for the well-being of people and the environment.
01 March | ‘Traceability Pilots in Indian Cotton Supply Chains: Lessons for Sustainability and Due Diligence’panel by the U.S. Department of Labor
Kritika Chauhan, AM, Communications & Sustainability Innovation participated in a panel ‘Traceability Pilots in Indian Cotton Supply Chains: Lessons for Sustainability and Due Diligence’ organised by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The panel discussed how technologies can support labor due diligence, with a focus on additive product tracers and isotope testing. Sharing the key learnings from the STREAMS traceability pilots, Kritika shared that as the first mill to implement YESS, Shahi looked forward to exploring complementary technologies and future advancements.
28 February | Masterclass organised by Good Business Lab
Deepak Rautela, Associate Vice President, Training & Organizational Development, spoke at the Masterclass on “Enhancing Business Gains through Worker Communication” organized by Good Business Lab at Bharat Tex 2024. He was joined by Lavanya Garg, Director, Strategy, Partnership, and People Operations at Good Business Lab, and Renukaprasad B, Senior Manager of GBL Ventures.
He shared insights on the transformative impact of Inache, an anonymous and digital grievance redressal tool, from the use-case experience of Shahi and how it has helped improve worker communication from the shop floor.
28 February | ‘Redefining Natural Fibers: Collaboration for High-Value Products’ panel at Bharat Tex 2024
Gauri Sharma represented Shahi at a panel discussion on ‘Redefining Natural Fibers: Collaboration for High-Value Products’ at Bharat Tex 2024. She shared, “Innovation in sustainable materials faces hurdles in scaling up due to certification costs and performance expectations. Alongside sustainability, we need to focus on performance and added benefits to the consumer. Supporting innovations emerging in India, especially in the transition from pilot to commercial stage, requires collective efforts from both industry and government.”
28 February | ‘Doing Business in India’ panel organised by Invest India
Anant Ahuja, Head of ESG, participated in a panel ‘Doing Business in India’ organised by Invest India at Bharat Tex 2024. He highlighted the role of manufacturers in advancing sustainability, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across the supply chain to achieve decarbonization, use sustainable materials, and address other key sustainability goals.
The panel aimed to drive growth and elevate India’s global competitiveness in textiles, making it an attractive destination for investment.
27 February | Vision 2047 in Textiles
Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson represented Shahi at a panel titled ‘Vision 2047 in Textiles’ hosted by NITI Aayog at Bharat Tex 2024. He shared his views on achieving the vision of making India the world’s largest textile hub. He mentioned, “As a roadmap ahead, the Indian textile industry’s primary vision should be to have a systemic approach toward sustainability to boost the global value chain. By focusing on building a robust value chain, enhancing infrastructure, scaling economies, and prioritizing quality, we can reignite India’s growth in textiles, propelling us towards Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance).”
26 February | CXOs Roundtable at Bharat Tex 2024
Shahi participated in an exclusive CXO Roundtable organized by KPMG at the Bharat Tex, which facilitates collaboration with industry peers on strategic initiatives. Harish Ahuja, the Managing Director and Chairperson, represented Shahi at the roundtable.
The panel discussed the steps India needs to take to reduce reliance on imported raw materials. Other takeaways included focusing on scale, sustainability, and quality to make India a global manufacturing hub for textiles and apparel. He shared, “Through collaborative platforms and a focus on operational efficiency, the textile industry can drive innovation and sustainable growth. Smart automation and cutting-edge technology, empowering women, and accessing global markets are key strategies for success in the sector.”
21 February | OECD – OCDE Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector
Anant Ahuja, represented Shahi at the OECD – Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector. In the panel, ‘More than just paperwork? He highlighted the role of certifications in due diligence as a supplement to compliance with standards, driving improvements, and addressing challenges in the supply chain.
20 February | ‘Mill Conformance with Due Diligence Requirements – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ at the OECD – OECD Forum
Kritika Chauhan, Assistant Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovation, was a panelist on ‘Mill Conformance with Due Diligence Requirements – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly ’ by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She shared Shahi’s experiences in understanding, meeting, and assessing the requirements of the YESS due diligence standards. She also explored strategies to scale due diligence efforts to address potential and actual forced labor risk.
19 February | Moderated Panel Discussion at the OECD – OECD Forum
Anant Ahuja moderated a session by Better Buying Institute at the OECD—OCDE Forum on ‘Empowering suppliers and supporting buyers in using data to accelerate purchasing practices improvements’. The panel discussed obstacles hindering the acceleration of purchasing practices and explored strategies for utilizing BBI data to address these challenges and promote optimal practices for driving change.
The speakers on the panel were Marsha Dickson from Better Buying Institute, Michael Levine from Under Armour, Nikhil Hirdaramani from Hirdaramani Apparel, Pat Noonan from SanMar Corporation, Stanley Szeto from Lever Style, Marc Beckmann from GIZ-FABRIC, and Janet Mensink from SLCP.
14 February | Supplier Journey with Walmart
Anant Ahuja, spoke at the Walmart Growth Summit 2024 in a panel titled ‘Supplier Journey with Walmart.’
He discussed Shahi’s journey with Walmart, highlighting our collaborative efforts. He stated, “Our supplier journey with Walmart spans over three decades. Their commitment to innovation and sustainability drives us to continuously improve, aligning perfectly with our values. By investing in the supply chain, we aim to grow the positive impacts our business can have.”
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2023. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2022, 2021.
04 December | Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Manufacturer’s Forum: Bangalore
Gauri Sharma, Assistant General Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovation, represented Shahi at the SAC’s Coalition Manufacturer’s Forum in Bangalore to present the key takeaways from ‘An Apparel Supplier’s Guide: Key Sustainability Legislations in the EU, US, and UK’ a groundbreaking resource on sustainability-related legislation in the apparel industry.
Gauri shares how Shahi partnered with a group of suppliers, including Epic Group, Norlanka, Simple Approach, along with Transformers Foundation and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, to develop this comprehensive resource to build an understanding of policies initiated in the global north and how they often have a ripple effect down the supply chain in regions outside the jurisdiction of the policy.
From increased reporting requirements to supply chain traceability, the report researched and written by The Remedy Project examines key focus areas, potential legal implications, and operational considerations for apparel suppliers & beyond.
01-02 December | Reimagining Textile Waste in India Conference by Fashion For Good
Gauri Sharma spoke at the ‘Reimagining Textile Waste in India Conference’ held in Delhi on December 1st and 2nd. The event gathered multiple supply chain members to discuss the enablers for a future of circularity, including innovators like Renewcell, with whom Shahi is working actively as the Indian supply chain partner.
The event paved the way for more conversations and projects around textile waste and circularity in India and how we can work together collaboratively in the coming months.
29 November | SAP Concur- Indian Economy Looking Ahead- Crystal Ball Gazing
Pravin Dalal, DGM Environmental Sustainability at Shahi, spoke at SAP Concur- Indian Economy Looking Ahead- Crystal Ball Gazing. He was joined by Vijay Kumar Nagaraju, Deputy General Manager – Environment, Sustainability & ESG, Brigade Enterprises Ltd. The panel, moderated by Hoshie Ghaswalla, CEO of Business World Engage, discussed ‘ROl on Sustainability,’ where Pravin shared insights on the importance of integrating sustainability initiatives into organizational practices. He shares, “Embedding sustainability in organizational practices through a dual approach—top-down and bottom-up—is crucial. Beyond measurable ROI, focus on indirect benefits like a positive reputation, enhanced brand value, and talent retention for enduring organizational value.”
27 October | ‘Future of Work and Skills For Emerging Markets’ by Good Business Lab
JD. Giri, Director at Shahi, spoke at the ‘Future of Work and Skills For Emerging Markets’ conference hosted by Good Business Lab (GBL), Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), and 21st Century India Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The panel discussed ‘Soft Skills, Hard Skills, Digital Skills?: Upskilling India’s Workforce’, where he shared insights on upskilling India’s workforce by integrating soft skills with technical prowess to empower workers and improve work culture. He was joined by Raffaella Sadun, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, Co-Lead at Digital Reskilling Lab, and Daniel Uribe Villa, Principal of VélezReyes+.
13 October | Chintan Shivir Event hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson at Shahi, represented the Textile and Apparel Industry at the Chintan Shivir event hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
He painted a comprehensive picture of the textile industry, highlighting the current sector profile and setting ambitious goals, along with a plan of action for the shift in the current ecosystem and policies, technological advancements, and employment.
07 October | Panel Discussion by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
Sanjana Pimoli, Assistant Manager, Communications and Sustainability Innovation, represented Shahi in a World Cotton Day panel discussion on ‘Circularity in the Cotton Value Chain.’ The Ministry of Textiles organized this panel in collaboration with the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd (CCI) and the EU Resource Efficiency Initiative (India).
Sanjana shared Shahi’s comprehensive approach to integrating elements of circularity in our business, particularly concerning cotton sourcing and waste management at different supply chain stages. She also highlighted challenges in scaling innovations and the need for collaboration to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in creating solutions for a just transition for the industry.
26 September | NOMI Network2023 Summit
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, spoke at the Nomi Network 2023 Summit in a panel titled ‘Closing Wealth Gaps: Innovations in Global Supply Chain.’
He discussed Shahi’s journey and how the mission of NOMI Network, centered on empowering women from marginalized backgrounds, aligns with Shahi’s dedication to promoting gender equality and social inclusion. Anant also highlighted the various training programs, employment opportunities, mentorship initiatives, and support Shahi offers to candidates from the NOMI Network, enabling them to navigate workplace challenges and fostering their personal and professional development.
23 August | 16th Edition of the Environment and Energy Conclave by BCCI
Kritika Chauhan, Assistant Manager, Communication and Sustainability Innovations, participated in a panel on ‘Sustainable approach and circular economy.’
At the 16th Edition of the Environment and Energy Conclave by The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She shared, “Circular business models impact environmental sustainability, and collaboration within the supply chain can ensure scalability.”
20-21 July | Apparel Sourcing Week 2023
Anant Ahuja, participated in a panel on ‘Green Manufacturing: Significance and Strategies for Implementation’ at this year’s Apparel Sourcing Week hosted by Apparel Resources.
During the panel, he shared insights from Shahi’s journey in adopting sustainable practices. He addressed the challenges of implementing these practices, especially the additional costs often associated with them.
Anant also highlighted that sustainability is an exercise in both environmental and social well-being. And how a commitment to evidence-based worker well-being measures results in impactful programs that empower workers and promote a positive impact on the communities in which Shahi operates.
18 July | Women Deliver Conference 2023
Shahi co-hosted a virtual concurrent session on “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Growth for Women in Low-Income Work” together with Good Business Lab and the United Nations Foundation at this year’s Women Deliver Conference. In a first, Shahi was represented by a factory worker and presented cross-cutting views from across the value chain, including insights from lived experience, research, on-ground implementation, and policy perspectives.
Kalyani Pandey, Needle Keeper, shared “Women face biases right from home and at work, where they expect us to drop the ball in quality and responsibility. The programs I have been a part of have helped break down different aspects of my life that potentially impact my work. It showed how awareness, communication, time management, and financial planning can help bring about big changes at work and at home.”
Additionally, Chitra Ramdas, General Manager, Organizational Development elaborated “The effort does not stop at training. It is important to close the loop on equality programs with real transitions on the shop floor in both decision-making and remuneration for women who take on more responsibilities on the shop floor. To build a culture of gender equality, organizations need to work on policies and practices coupled with supportive team members and develop leaders as champions.”
10-11 July | YESS Launched in Pakistan and India
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, and Amanullah S.P, Assistant General Manager, Spinning, were speakers at the webinar organized by Yarn Ethically and Sustainably Sourced (YESS), supported by Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN). YESS launched its due diligence standard in India and Pakistan this year with successfully conducted mill assessments.
Shahi became the first mill in India to undergo this assessment, and the speakers shared Shahi’s positive experience and valuable learnings.
30 June-1 July | BSL’s Glocal Maneuver Series Powerplay-2
Rajneesh Rai, Senior General Manager of Laboratory & Environmental Sustainability, participated in a panel discussion titled “Good Earth: One Earth-ESG Goals and Beyond” at the Glocal Maneuver Series Powerplay-2 event organized by the Brands Sourcing Leaders Association (BSL).
This panel brought together industry leaders to delve into the future of sustainability and its impact on businesses globally. In the discussion, Rajneesh provided his insights on the roadmap to prepare for the future of sustainability. He emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures in the present, with a strong sense of responsibility. He walked the audience through how Shahi aims to reduce environmental impact through materials and processes by working with innovators to explore alternative materials with lower environmental impacts, reduce process-related footprints, and optimize resource consumption.
Furthermore, Shahi’s sustainability journey, deeply rooted in our “Responsible for” framework, integrating social and environmental well-being, was showcased in a spotlight session by Pravin Dalal, Deputy General Manager of Environmental Sustainability, and Snigdha Voruganti, Senior Executive of Communication and Sustainability Innovations. Their insightful presentation highlighted our ongoing efforts to drive positive change and make a lasting impact.
28 June | Roundtable at Global Fashion Summit
Sanjana Pimoli, Assistant Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovations, participated in a roundtable hosted by Global Fashion Agenda with London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion as a segment within the Next Gen Assembly programme for young sustainability talents. The roundtable discussed how storytelling could be used to drive ambition to action in fashion system transformation.
Sanjana spoke about the agrarian crisis triggered in India due to climate change and the importance of innovations such as Cellulosic Superabsorbent Polymer in securing farmers and making the textile industry circular. She also emphasized the systems change required in scaling these innovations.
13 June | Planet Textiles by Sustainable Apparel Coalition
Gauri Sharma, Assistant General Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovation, was among the esteemed speakers at Planet Textiles on June 13, 2023. She shared insights on ‘Scaling Processing Technologies in the Fashion Industry to Achieve Our Climate Goals: Barriers and Solutions.’
There is an unprecedented level of urgency for the industry to decarbonize, which requires a shift from incremental to disruptive innovation, especially during the energy-guzzling textile processing stage. By setting this context, Gauri emphasized that manufacturers must be part of the problem-solving from the beginning. They require industry stakeholders to share the risk, jointly invest, and build long-term partnerships to scale upcoming technologies that enable the shift from wet to dry processing.
08 June | Open Perspectives by H&M Foundation
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, spoke on a panel, ‘Changing the System’, as part of H&M Foundation’s annual Global Change Awards. Anant highlighted the significance of social innovation in the apparel industry, given that it employs millions of people, particularly women, in the supply chains. Social innovation can be more complex than environmental because it requires an understanding of local contexts, and its impact can be hard to measure. Anant shared Shahi’s evidence-based interventions, which have had a measurable positive impact on both business and workers, and called upon the industry to invest equally in social programs and innovators.
06 June | United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific
Ayushi Ghosh, Senior Executive, Communication and Sustainability Innovations, represented Shahi in a side session on ‘Championing Worker Voice: The Role of Technology in promoting worker well-being’ at the UNDPv B+HR forum this year.
In this panel, Ayushi spoke about the enduring principles of worker’s voice, emphasizing the importance of listening, understanding, and remediation, even as communication mediums have evolved over time. She stressed the goal of including worker voice in driving meaningful action and supporting a healthy work environment while fostering a thriving business. She highlighted the need to build the employer’s ability to listen and ensure that workers are equipped to utilize the available communication channels effectively. Understanding the journey that their voice takes through these channels is key.
20-22 April | Odisha Skill Conclave 2023
Odisha Skill Conclave 2023 was a three-day event that brought together leaders from Industry, Academia, and International Organizations to explore innovation, best practices, and the role of partnerships in generating employment and unlocking the potential of Odisha’s workforce.
The Government of Odisha has been a long-standing partner in Shahi’s path to making skilling accessible to youth and women in India. JD. Giri, Director at Shahi, described our journey together to empower the next generation of skilled professionals and drive economic growth.
19-21 April | AIChE: Global Polymers and Textiles Conference
Anant Ahuja presented the research on cellulosic superabsorbent polymer (CSAP) at the #AIChe Global Polymers and Textiles Conference held at the University of Massachusetts amidst industry leaders, designers, and academics.
He emphasized the use case of CSAP as a climate adaptive measure to de-risk cotton farmers against crop failure due to water stress. Anant also spoke at the circularity and supply chain management panel and shared his thoughts on the strategic collaboration required to accelerate sustainability in the industry. He highlighted how HKRITA – The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited’s model of applied research and partnership with the industry enabled us to work efficiently on R&D on CSAP.
15-17 March | 3rd Global Textile Conclave
Anjani Mishra, Deputy General Manager of Skill Development, represented Shahi at the 3rd Global Textile Conclave organized by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).
In a panel on ‘Increasing Economic and Social Opportunities for Women in the Textile and Apparel Industry,’ he spoke about Shahi’s commitment to improving the socio-economic status of female candidates through skilling & gainful employment across 70+ skill development training centers in 15 States in India. He emphasized the importance of Upskilling & Re-skilling existing female employees to improve career progression within the organization.
16-17 February | OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment & Footwear Sector
Anant Ahuja represented Shahi at the 2023 OECD – OCDE Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector. He spoke at the panel “Due diligence costs and responsibilities:
Collaborative approaches to buyer-supplier relationships” about the value of multi-stakeholder initiatives on due diligence that involves suppliers, brands, NGOs, and other experts to address the challenges in a local context.
28 February | Organic Cotton & Textiles Conference 2023
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Communications and Sustainability Innovations, Shahi spoke at the Organic Cotton & Textiles Conference 2023 about the social protections that need to be embedded and strengthened at the farm level in cotton production and the pertinent role of emerging policies in enabling these changes.
She also highlighted how a vertically integrated manufacturer like Shahi could play a role in accelerating authentic organic cotton in the industry sustainably.
31 January | BSR KWIL Conference
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Communications and Sustainability Innovations, represented Shahi at the Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) event focusing on their ‘Keeping Workers in the Loop’ (KWIL) Project. In the panel ‘PROGRESS TOWARDS A JUST, FAIR & INCLUSIVE CIRCULAR FASHION SYSTEM’ joined by H&M, ILO, and Hasiru Dala, she shared how the learnings from the KWIL project motivated Shahi to take on a lens of social wellbeing in circularity.
After engaging in the KWIL research last year, Shahi took on projects and pilots on circularity while keeping worker well-being at the center. She also emphasized the role of strong brand-supplier relationships in the fair transition to a circular economy.
30 January | Shades of Blue
Chitra Ramdas, General Manager, Organizational Development at Shahi, participated in a panel discussion on ‘enabling worker voice,’ an essential tool for a thriving business and work environment for manufacturers at Shades of Blue by Good Business Lab.
Shades of Blue was an experience center curated at the Alliance Française de Bangalore that explored blue-collar labor and its many complexities through a fresh way of understanding India’s older garment sector and the emerging gig economy.
24 January | IOM Panel
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, represented Shahi in the Indo-Pacific Supply Chain Guidelines Launch hosted by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM). He shared the myriad of challenges faced by migrant workers, including lack of affordable housing, health facilities, and social isolation, among others. Shahi is working closely with ecosystem partners to build a model and ecosystem of support for migrant workers at Shahi in the form of a migrant support center. The aim is to create an enabling environment for migrant workers to access job opportunities and create a model center that can be adopted and scaled across industries and geographies.
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2022. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2021, 2020.
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2021. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2020, 2019.
December 14, 2021 | SLCP Signatory Webinar
Manjunatha Sriramaiah, Assistant General Manager of Compliance at Shahi spoke at the Social Labour Convergence Program Signatory Webinar 2021 held in December. He highlighted how Shahi became an early signatory to SLCP owing to the program’s numerous benefits, including value-added service for our customers, capacity building for our employees, and the tool’s credibility. Currently, 76% of our facilities have completed the SLCP self-assessment, saving us 4,416 hours due to reduced audits.
December 14, 2021 | #ETConvergenceSeries Industry 4.0: Connected Operations for smart manufacturing
Our Chief Technology Officer, Puneesh Lamba was featured on a panel at the coveted ET Convergence Series. He spoke about automated and smart manufacturing in the apparel industry and the potential it holds to develop more robust businesses. This panel was organized by The Economic Times and powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Deloitte. Other esteemed guests on the panel represented MTR Foods, DP World, Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Carl Zeiss and Sigma Electric Manufacturing.
December 9, 2021 | Business for Social Responsibility
How to Enable a Just, Fair, and Inclusive Transition to Circular Fashion by BSR
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) organized this panel discussion to launch the report ‘Keeping Workers in the Loop.’ The conversation revolved around the opportunities around circular fashion while emphasizing its impact on the job market for garment workers, especially women. Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Organizational Development, spoke about the context of circular economy and how the responsibility of a manufacturer is not just limited to recycling but also includes women in circular jobs. Incorporating their traditional techniques of repair, upcycle, and the like into the circular models makes for a more collaborative model. We must endeavor to ensure good quality jobs that align with frameworks such as SLCP.
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Organizational Development, was invited to co-host a series on the fourth season of the Manufactured podcast hosted by Kim Van der Weerd. These episodes were in conversation with Matthew Wallace, CEO of DXM. Inc
DXM is a technology-driven on-demand manufacturing company co-owned by Shahi Exports, Brandix, MAS Holdings, Busana Apparel Group, and Carhartt. Gauri and Matthew speak about how building a soft relationship between various stakeholders in the industry is equally important as technological innovation in ensuring circular business models.
The Sankalp Global Summit was a three-day event that saw over 2521 delegates from 104 countries. Rajneesh Rai, General Manager, Environmental Sustainability, spoke on the panel ‘Getting to Net Zero – the Role of the Private Sector’ on Shahi’s tremendous progress and leading the way in being part of the solution by setting bold commitments to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions.
He highlighted some of the key achievements at Shahi, such as the Cradle to Cradle Certification for the ‘Arth Collection,’ declaring Science-Based Targets at some of our factories, among others. He also pointed out how favorable government policies and commercially viable technologies will help stakeholders transform into a sustainable ecosystem.
October 13, 2021 | Sedex South Asia 2021
SEDEX is a membership organization that provides online platforms to manage and improve the working conditions in the global supply chains. Srinivasa Rao Venkatesh, Chief Compliance Officer at Shahi spoke at the ‘Managing Supply Chain Risks in the Textile Industry,’ highlighting some of the risks faced by the industry, such as health and safety, licensing, and working hours.
These further expand to post-lockdown challenges, including job losses, and issues affecting migrant workers. He concluded by enumerating potential solutions we deployed at Shahi to enhance capacity building, monitoring, workforce empowerment, and providing a fair and respectful workplace.
September 9, 2021 | PI Apparel
PI Apparel is a membership community for apparel and footwear manufacturers that engage with the industry’s challenges and technologies. PI Apparel organized a sustainability spotlight in September where our Head of Organizational Development, Anant Ahuja, moderated the session on ‘What are the Practical Steps We Need to Take in Terms of Infrastructure, People & Technology to Underpin a More Sustainable Operation’? The session focused on the culture of sustainability among different organizations and how brands and suppliers can leverage technology to drive sustainability. The key to an impactful journey towards sustainability is collaboration at the core of business models.
September 1-2, 2021 | Thrive 2021, KGA Managers’ Conference
This year, KGA Manager’s Conference engaged with the theme ‘Lead with Empathy, Win with Agility’ to discuss the challenges and risks triggered by the pandemic. Anant Ahuja, the Head of Organizational Development at Shahi, participated in the ‘Sustainability: Imperatives & Roadblocks’ session.
He spoke about how at Shahi, collaboration with brands and research institutions supplement sustainable practices. Examples include the ZDHC Roadmap to zero programs, NIFT Chair 4.0, Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold products, and a trial with HKRITA. He also shared a few suggestions on how KMART Group as a brand can help suppliers on their journey towards becoming sustainable. Here, sharing knowledge with suppliers, developing a capacity plan, and small interventions such as sourcing closer to the market and consolidation of shipments are a few steps that can considerably impact suppliers.
August 2, 2021 | Tamarind Chutney
A Webinar on ‘Technology and Innovation in Circular Fashion’
The webinar was co-organized by Tamarind Chutney and Chintan (Environmental Research and Action Group) with the support of Fredrik Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation. The panelists discussed the growing global recognition for moving from a wasteful linear supply chain to a closed-loop, a circular one.
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager of the Organizational Development team, spoke about the need for innovations and technology to solve critical challenges and enable this transition. She described how Shahi is working on projects such as Cradle to Cradle products, HKRITA- SAP, microbial dyeing, and recycling, among others. She also spoke about suppliers’ challenges, including the price-sensitive nature of the industry, transactional and short-term relationships with brands, and lack of transparency.
July 15, 2021 | Walmart Global Sourcing Sustainability (Regenerative Retailer) Summit
The summit explored how the suppliers can work together with brands actively to pursue sustainability goals aimed at sourcing responsibly, eliminating waste and emissions, selling sustainable products, and protecting nature.
In the virtual session, he shared Shahi’s vision of ‘doing more with fewer resources’ along with the company’s progress in improving its impact in four distinct areas: energy, chemicals, water, and materials.
June 1-4, 2021 | United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum
The UN Human Rights Office for Southeast Asia organized five virtual sessions at the 2021 UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum. Anant Ahuja, Head of the Organizational Development at Shahi, spoke at ‘The Next Decade of Migration, Fashion and Human Rights’ panel, centered around the role, vulnerabilities, and experiences of migrant workers and the impact of future business trends on them, especially the female labor in the fashion supply chain.
He discussed a few practical examples of how Shahi is contributing to the wellbeing of migrant workers including implementing our skill development program since 2013, establishing the Migrant Support Centre in 2021, and our goal to provide access to vaccines to our entire workforce.
April 27-29, 2021 | Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference
The two-day event organized by the Innovation Forum addressed how apparel brands can adapt practices to deliver on growing stakeholder expectations and drive circularity while reducing the climate impact on the fashion supply chain. Anant Ahuja, Head of Organisational Development at Shahi spoke about the challenges, particularly the power imbalance faced in the textile industry, and how adhering to practices such as on-time payments and making long-term commitments with suppliers will help improve the buyer-supplier relationship.
April 13, 2021 | Transformer’s Foundation x Manufactured Live Event
The live panel discussion organized by Tranformer’s Foundation and Manufactured Podcast focused on consolidation and vertical integration in the fashion supply chain in a post-pandemic world, and how vertical integration supports sustainability within the suppliers. Anant Ahuja, Head of the Organizational Development at Shahi, reflected on Shahi’s journey and the values of sustainability and worker wellbeing that have been passed over generations. In the session, we discussed the several benefits of being vertically integrated including improved traceability, speed, cost, and time-saving mechanisms. Shahi hopes to bring together manufacturing expertise to further improve the vertical integration across the industry.
Watch a recording of the full panel discussion:
February 24- 26, 2021 | ReWire: Sustainability 2021
This 3-day virtual event was organized by MOTIF and The Mills Fabrica with selected disruptors in the sustainability industry. The event spotlighted emerging ecosystem standards, new materials, and a pathway towards circularity to fuel innovation across the fashion supply chain.
On the panel, “The infrastructure of sustainability” on February 24, 2021, we talked about our approach towards energy conservation and clean energy transition. In 2019-20, 77% of the electrical energy consumption across Shahi was carbon neutral. On February 25, 2021, we presented our new research project with The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel. We are reclaiming textile waste to grow cotton more efficiently as a way to support cotton farmers. Register for free to access the session recordings view more.
February 23, 2021 | Manufactured Podcast, Season 3
Manufactured is a podcast started in 2020 to provide an insider perspective on sustainability in the fashion supply chain. Two members of Shahi’s Organizational Development team, Anant Ahuja and Gauri Sharma were invited to speak for the latest double-episode which is now in its third season.
We believe in the power of being transparent, sharing our experiences, and gaining valuable feedback to improve further through platforms like Manufactured. Part 1 of the podcast covers Shahi’s journey over the last 45 years, and our perspective on collaboration between buyers and suppliers to drive sustainability. Part 2 of the podcast covers how Shahi has benefitted from becoming a vertically integrated supplier, and insights on our collaboration to drive circularity in the fashion supply chain.
February 19, 2021 | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), MBA Session on Supply Chain Sustainability
The session organized by HKUST as a part of their MBA Program focused on sustainability considerations in the global supply chains. We were invited as a guest speaker to offer the MBA students a perspective on how Shahi, India’s largest apparel manufacturer, and exporter, embrace sustainability through focused social and environmental initiatives. The interactive session included questions from the students on the challenges of implementing a multitude of worker wellbeing programs, disseminating best practices across the industry, and managing a large workforce during the COVID-19 crisis.
Please write back to us at od@shahi.co.in for more information.
Manufactured is a podcast started in 2020 with the intention of providing an insider perspective on sustainability in the fashion supply chain. Hosted by Kim van der Weerd and Jessie Li, two industry professionals who have worked directly in and with factories, this podcast spotlights those working in the supply chain, from factory owners and textile manufacturers to designers and sustainability officers. Through this approach, Manufactured is able to amplify key perspectives from the ground on complex issues such as buyer-supplier relationships, worker-management relations, subcontracting, and more. The long-form format of podcasting further enables this project to achieve its mission.
We believe in the greater need for transparency and open dialogue, so when Kim and Jessie reached out to Shahi to participate in an episode we were grateful for this opportunity. Transparency is often seen as consumer demand, however even as a supplier, there are benefits to being transparent including gaining valuable feedback that can help us learn and improve as well as having the opportunity to present our perspective on important events.
Two members of Shahi’s Organizational Development team, Anant Ahuja and Gauri Sharma joined Kim and Jessie for the latest double-episode of Manufactured which is now in its third season.
Part 1 (Episode 27) covers the following topics:
The journey of Shahi over the last 45 years
Why suppliers need to take a leadership role in the sustainability agenda
Barriers to genuine partnership and collaboration between buyers and suppliers: Power dynamics, lack of trust, and perceived lack of incentives for suppliers to invest in sustainability
Why Shahi set up Good Business Lab and the need for an evidence-based approach to worker wellbeing programs
Part 2 (Episode 28) covers the following topics:
The advantages of becoming a vertically integrated supplier
Sourcing cotton in India and the challenges faced by cotton farmers
Our new research project with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), through which we are reclaiming textile waste to grow cotton more efficiently as a way to support cotton farmers
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We love to connect with our industry peers and all other important stakeholders to share our experiences and exchange ideas. In this ongoing post, discover all the conferences and events we have spoken at in 2020.
It was an honor to share our experiences on incorporating gender equality principles in business operations at the panel on ‘Gender Guidance for the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: From Paper to Practice’ at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, the world’s largest global gathering on business and human rights, held annually. (more…)
We love sharing our work and learnings with industry and other important stakeholders. This post is an ongoing compilation of conferences and events we’ve spoken at in 2019. (more…)
Women Deliver is the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and well-being of girls and women. It’s in some ways an unlikely event for an apparel business to attend, let alone be invited to speak. However, in a country where the number of women in the workforce is dropping rapidly (from 34% to 24% in the last decade), our industry is a crucial source of economic empowerment for low-skilled women as well as an advocate for advancing women’s participation in work outside the home.
The triennial conference was held in Vancouver this June, with an attendance of over 8,000 delegates. Shahi’s head of Organizational Development, Anant Ahuja, was invited to speak on several panels to discuss the role of the private sector in supporting women’s empowerment and to announce some of our specific commitments. These include our commitment to extend P.A.C.E. training to 58,000* employees at Shahi as well as new commitment to provide reproductive health services as part of the Private Sector Action for Women’s Health & Empowerment led by the UN Foundation and others.
Shahi has always understood that women’s ability to care for their reproductive health and plan their family’s future is directly related to their personal and professional development – as well as their ability to contribute fully to the business and to society. In 2019*, we committed to partner with the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) to reach 9,000 workers in six of our factories, along with more than 10,000 community members, totaling 19,000 people, with women’s health information and services, including sexual and reproductive health that includes family planning, STI testing and treatment, and maternal and child health by 2020. Due to the challenges posed by COVID-19, we have extended the timeline of implementation of this commitment to July 2021. Learnings from this pilot initiative will lead to a wide-scale rollout of such services across more of Shahi’s factories.
Good Business Lab will undertake rigorous research to understand the outcomes of the pilot and are testing a range of implementation methodologies to increase effectiveness ahead of an expanded roll out across the business in the coming years. Watch this space for more updates on the launch and the research outcomes.
*Editorial Note: This post was originally published on June 26, 2019, and was updated on September 30, 2020.
