Tag: Sustainable Fashion

50 Years of Excellence: Shahi’s Story of Innovation, Responsibility, and Enduring Legacy

As we mark 50 years, we reflect on a journey defined by purpose—one that has guided us beyond fashion and business. Over the years, Shahi has grown into more than just a /manufacturer; we have become a company driven by innovation, sustainability, and a deep commitment to empowering people. This journey began with the vision of our founder, Mrs. Sarla Ahuja, whose dedication and hard work laid the foundation for our growth.

Her focus on excellence and attention to detail continues to shape our approach toward our work today. As we look ahead, we remain committed to a sustainable, purpose-driven path, learning from our experiences and always striving to do more.

Our Approach to Growth

Shahi’s journey started with a simple home operation, with just Rs. 5000 as initial capital. From the beginning, the company embraced a mindset of constantly asking, “What more can we do?”

This approach guided us through early challenges and paved the way for growth, starting with our first factory at Ranjeet Nagar in New Delhi. As we scaled our production, we expanded to Okhla and then to Faridabad, continuing to expand our operations and meet the emerging needs of the garment industry.

Woven products, however, are highly seasonal. In the markets in which our brands operated, Shahi saw an opportunity to foray into the Knitted apparel space. This led to the creation of the Knits Division in 2001—a logical step that helped balance our operations. What began with a small office under a tree in Tiruppur soon became essential to our growth, opening up new markets and strengthening our presence, particularly in South India.

By 2005, Shahi was incorporated as a private limited company, a key milestone in our journey. At the same time, we strategically refined our operations by demerging woven operations into two divisions: Ladies Specialty Division (LSD) and Mens and Bottoms (MNB). Alongside the Knits Division, these independent units were given the flexibility to innovate and adapt to market needs while always staying true to Shahi’s core values of continuous improvement and quality standards.

From Yarn to Excellence: Driving Vertical Integration

In 1996, Shahi took a decisive step by establishing its first mill, Sarla Fabrics Ltd. (SFL), in Ghaziabad. What began as a small operation with just 100 workers, SFL set the foundation for our vertical integration strategy. Over time, we expanded to four mills, increasing our capacity to weave 86 million meters and knit 144 megatons of fabric annually.

With the expansion, the journey was about transforming the way we approached manufacturing. The ability to control the entire process, from yarn to finished fabric, became essential to maintaining the quality, speed, and traceability our clients expect. Vertical integration allowed us to boost efficiency and ensure consistency.

We didn’t just stop at manufacturing apparel— we developed strong capabilities in product design with 3D and VR tools and an accredited lab. We created a seamless process that not only delivers precision but also ensures each garment embodies the quality and innovation Shahi is known for. Today, this approach has made us a one-stop manufacturing destination, capable of meeting the evolving demands of the global apparel industry while maintaining our commitment to excellence and sustainable growth.

Pioneering Sustainable Practices

In 2010, Shahi embarked on a new chapter with the launch of our Denim Division. Given the resource-intensive nature of denim production, this expansion pushed us to think differently and adopt more sustainable practices. One of the key initiatives was rainwater harvesting, which helped to conserve resources. A couple of years later, we became one of the first to adopt the HIGG standard and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) program.

By 2018, we saw an opportunity to expand our sustainability efforts even further. We invested in solar power projects in Karnataka’s Bellary and Bidar districts to reduce emissions and transition toward renewable energy. These solar plants, combined with our wind energy, now meet 70% of Shahi’s energy needs with a goal to achieve 100% by 2026.

As we continued progressing, the next logical step was tackling waste and moving towards a circular fashion model. In the same year, we worked on the “Arth” collection with C&A, which achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold status. This collection marked a milestone in our efforts to close the loop in fashion production.

These initiatives laid the groundwork for the ‘Responsible for People and Planet’ framework. The framework is a holistic approach that weaves together our environmental and social strategy. Every step, from water conservation to renewable energy and circularity, drives a single goal: to create a sustainable future that benefits both the planet and its people.

Investing in People

Our founder believed in the power of skill training to transform lives. Capacity Building empowers people to make a living, drive aspirations, and influence the community around them for good. In the early years, she trained women who were seeking jobs. Mrs. Ahuja would guide them in managing finances, investing in their children’s education, and securing their future. To further support financial independence, Shahi was one of the first factories to introduce ATMs within its factory.

As we grew, we realized the potential of this industry for social impact, with the entry barrier being as low as 60-90 days. Our experience positioned Shahi as a strategic stakeholder in the Textile Sector Skills Council and schemes like the Deen Dayal Grameen Kaushal Yojana under the Ministry of Rural Development.

Since 2013, Shahi has set up over 100 skill centers across 11 Indian states, training more than 51,000 women and youth. We took our founder’s mission a step further by becoming the first manufacturer to pilot Gap Inc.’s Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.)¹ in 2007. We have trained over 86,000 women in essential soft and life skills like communication, financial management, and work-life balance.

Worker well-being at Shahi is backed by collaborative research programs. Our dedication to evidence-based decision-making is reflected in all employee well-being programs. Our partnership with Good Business Lab (GBL) led to the introduction of Inache, a multilingual, anonymous grievance tool that ensures safe and secure employee feedback.

As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in building a knowledge base for worker well-being and business growth. With a workforce of over 100,000, 70% of whom are women, Shahi continues to go above and beyond, fostering an environment where every individual is supported, empowered, and valued.

Looking Beyond

As Shahi marks 50 years, we reflect on a journey defined by more than just growth—it’s been about challenging norms, pushing boundaries, and driving meaningful change. A commitment to experimentation has marked our legacy. In the competitive garment manufacturing sector, where stagnation is not an option, Shahi has always embraced new ideas.

We choose to see an opportunity in the garment sector, where high attrition is often seen as inevitable. We are committed to reimagining the workplace, creating a space where our employees can thrive.

As we look to the future, we are guided by the same ethos that has shaped our past—continually asking, “What more can we do?” With that, we are ready to shape the future of fashion and beyond.

¹ Gap Inc. P.A.C.E. is now RISE: Reimagining Industry to Support Equality, an initiative that brings together the four largest women’s empowerment programs in the apparel industry—BSR’s HERproject, Gap Inc. P.A.C.E, CARE International, and Better Work—to build upwards from proven approaches, scale impact, and improve efficiency.

September 26, 2024
Farm Residue to Fashion: Our Journey with AltMat

How often do we think about the raw materials used in our garments? Raw material production and their processing contribute to up to approximately 2/3rd of the GHG impact of the fashion industry. Most brands have set ambitious targets to integrate sustainable, low-impact materials into their supply chain and make them accessible to consumers. Therefore, it is essential to replace conventional materials with next-generation material alternatives. A report by the Boston Consulting Group stated that the demand for low-impact raw materials could exceed supply by as much as 133 million tons by 2030.

Alternative materials are available, but most exist in the early R&D stage. It is essential for suppliers to partner with innovators to provide them with supply chain integration and unique insights to scale to an industrial level. Read below to learn more about how Shahi Alternative materials are available, but most exist in the early R&D stage. It is essential for suppliers to partner with innovators to provide them with supply chain integration and unique insights to scale to an industrial level. Read below to learn more about how Shahi and AltMat worked together to scale fabrics made from agricultural residue. and AltMat worked together to scale fabrics made from agricultural residue.

About AltMat

Farm Residue→ Fiber → Yarn

The fashion industry and biodiversity are intrinsically linked as we rely on a naturally limited supply of resources to grow its raw material — natural fibers. The fashion industry is in search of new raw materials. In our quest to find lower-impact next-generation materials, in 2021, Shahi came across AltMat in one of the innovation showcases. AltMat is an Alternative Materials Science company that converts agricultural residues into high-performing natural materials called Altag. Using materials science and sustainable proprietary processes, they can transform biomass of certain food, medicinal, and industrial crops into natural fibers for the fashion industry.

The Impact

Shahi believes in the power of AltMat to bring exponential positive impact on the industry. One, as a solution to the industry’s and brand’s search for alternatives and, in parallel, a pathway for millions of farmers who burn their crop residues and set off dangerous emissions levels for want of better options. Additionally, we can divert several resources, such as water and energy used to grow raw materials, to alternate uses.

The agricultural residue is converted into fiber using a series of proprietary traditional, microbial, chemical, and mechanical methods to retain the natural structure of the fiber. AltMat has carefully built the processing methodology to ensure sustainable production.

Fiber production uses zero hazardous chemicals, with more than 90% water savings, 50% less carbon footprint, and more than 80% reduction in energy consumption. AltMat fiber is recyclable and biodegradable, making post-consumer textile recovery easy.

The Collaboration

Shahi and AltMat have signed a Value Chain Agreement

As a vertically integrated manufacturer, Shahi is uniquely positioned to integrate Altag into the supply chain for scaling it with our strategic and innovative brand partners. To accelerate the market adoption of Altag, Shahi and AltMat have signed a Value Chain Agreement that underscores the importance of partnerships grounded in the ethos of equitable purchasing practices and sustainable transformation. As a value chain partner, Shahi has priority access to the Altag yarns and co-develops fabrics with our global chain of innovative customers.

“Scaling sustainable alternatives like AltMat isn’t easy, but the journey is where the true impact lies. It is about shared learning, open collaboration, and a shared mission to rewrite the future of fashion. Suppliers like Shahi, working with innovators directly, can share their feedback to help refine the solution for industrial scale. AltMat is an example of how a successful partnership can build an enabling ecosystem to scale.”

— Gauri Sharma, Assistant General Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovations, Shahi Exports

The R&D Journey: Scout, Pilot, Scale, and Support

Scout
The agreement and collaborative scaling of AltMat to the industry scale is the culmination of our numerous pilots for woven and knitted fabric made from agricultural residue. During an innovation showcase, we were introduced to AltMat in September 2021 by CAIF under their Project Accelerating Circular Economy (ACE). Post the showcase, we held several discussions between our technical teams and AltMat to understand the technology, implementation feasibility, and traceability guidelines.

Pilot

In December 2021, we initiated our first woven pilot project with AltMat with two quality compositions. We undertook four pilots over two years to experiment with different structures, compositions, counts, and designs of the fabric. Working with innovators, we are able to provide feedback from the industry perspective and technical know-how that helps innovators such as AltMat to incorporate them, accelerating the process for scale up.

The learnings from each pilot helped us explore the versatility of Altag with a myriad of dyeing techniques and finishes. Fabrics made with Altag have a hand feel similar to natural cellulosic fabrics. The fabric retains the natural structure, which changes over time. That is the beauty of the Altag fabric.

The learnings from the pilot resulted in a synchronized swatch book with over 10 different woven fabrics made with Altag spread across four collections:

The collection was made in active collaboration with a diverse team at Shahi, ranging from the technical mill team, Fabric Innovations, and R&D to the Marketing team.

Scale

After ensuring the industry quality standards, the woven collection is ready to be scaled up to the industry level. Shahi and AltMat, in collaboration with Fashion for Good, recently held a brand engagement session attended by over 15 brands. Being a competitive space, the brand engagement session is a testament to how the industry wants to collaborate with each other to achieve the common goal of making low-impact materials available to the typical consumer at scale. Currently, we have one bulk order in the pipeline from our customers for the AltMat collection. Shahi will be the first manufacturer globally to scale Altag.

Support

But the journey continues. Together with AltMat, we continuously work on research and development to produce knitted fabric using agricultural residue. Shahi is the first supplier to pilot Altag for knitted fabric in India, and we have completed two pilot projects to date. The fabric hand-feel and processing have improved with each pilot and new insights. The Value Chain Agreement signifies our commitment to support AltMat in scaling and integrating them to the larger supply chain.

“Both AltMat and Shahi are prepared with the infrastructure and learning curves required to scale a new natural fiber like Altag. We are excited to announce that the Shahi and AltMat value chain partnership milestone brings this possibility of scale to life.”

— Shikha, Founder, AltMat

Collaboration for the future

With each pilot, each experiment, and each swatch of Altag fabric, we’re paving the way for a cleaner, greener industry, one stitch at a time. With our fabrics made with AltMat, we are actively looking for brand partners to integrate the next-generation material into their supply chains. With each woven and knitted fabric, we’re rewriting the narrative – one where farmers are empowered, resources are conserved, and style goes hand-in-hand with sustainability. Join us in stitching a future where fashion thrives alongside our planet.

For more information, please contact od@shahi.co.in

January 17, 2024
Shahi’s First Sustainability Report

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Dear Stakeholder,

I am proud to present to you Shahi’s first Sustainability Report. For nearly five decades, right from when my mother started the company as a small home workshop, Shahi has put people and the planet at the forefront of business strategy in various ways. Sustainability has remained a key pillar of our success over the years. In a fast-changing global environment, our “Responsible For” framework guides our actions in line with our values. Our key stakeholders, including our customers, employees, business partners, suppliers, and civil society organizations, support us in achieving our goals.

At a time when natural resources are fast depleting and climate changes are intensifying, Shahi recognizes that to future-proof our business and continue providing high-quality employment to over 115,000 people—revitalizing our planet is absolutely necessary and urgent. That’s why we have set ambitious goals to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2026 and use 85% recycled water in garment washing by 2024. However, we cannot achieve our goals alone; the global industry must rise together to elevate towards sustainability. In 2021, we collaborated with one of our customers to achieve the highest standard for circularity by becoming India’s first woven apparel and textiles manufacturer to create Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold products. Our focus on innovation continues as we partner with academia, innovators, and NGOs to research and identify novel solutions to the immense challenges of this industry.

The past year remained challenging. As we recovered from the COVID-19 disruptions of 2020, India faced a destructive second wave of the pandemic in the middle of 2021. With a strained healthcare system, we knew we had to play a proactive role in supporting our employees through this unprecedented time. We set up vaccination camps in factories and offices to vaccinate nearly 100% of our workforce across the country in partnership with local health services, NGOs, and private and public hospitals. Moreover, we ensured our medical dispensaries were stocked with essential medicines and oxygen cylinders. Our Migration Support Center was open to migrants across industries for medical, residential, and vaccination support.

Despite these hurdles, we continued to support our employees’ development. In fact, we surpassed our target of training 58,000 women by 2024 in Gap Inc. P.A.C.E., a soft skills training for female workers, and delivered the training to over 70,000 women in FY 2021. Our focus on creating a safe and respectful work environment remains undeterred as we continue to expand frameworks like the Social and Labor Convergence Project (SLCP) and access to digital grievance redressal mechanisms to 100% of our factories by 2024.

Our influence and responsibility extend beyond our factory walls, reaching out to the communities in which we operate and other vulnerable groups. We have trained 44,000 women from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds in sewing skills, and our efforts in skill development will continue to be accelerated.

In 2021, our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects focused on enhancing education, improving public health, and promoting environmental and community management. We aim to reach thousands of women with menstrual, sexual and reproductive, and maternal health awareness and services. Similarly, our efforts in expanding green cover, migration support, and STEM education continue in full swing.

I hope you enjoy reading this report containing case studies, data, and insights about our sustainability efforts. With all humility, while we have made much progress, we have higher ambitions for the future. We call on all our stakeholders to join hands with us to create a thriving and sustainable industry for the future.

Harish Ahuja,

Chairperson and Managing Director,

Shahi Exports.

View More

to read our sustainability report for FY 2021.

January 30, 2023
Sustainability Spotlight | The classic blue denim
To name a piece of versatile, durable, and timeless clothing, very few would hesitate to pick the go-to pair of blue denim. Tracking the evolution of denim in the fashion industry, it is often surprising to people to know that the initial design for denim was made for miners and seafarers. The durability of denim made it an instant favorite for all heavy lifting work in the 1800s.

Over time, denim has crossed oceans and continents to lodge itself firmly in fashion history. What evolved from a completely practical utilitarian trend turned into a rebellious cultural shift in the 1960s and eventually a lifestyle choice. (read: The history of Denim Jeans).

But as it transforms from workwear to casual, how did manufacturers re-create that same worn-down look?

Wearing The Pair Down

Denim washing and finishing is a highly resource-intensive process. Conventional methods of mass production also use a large amount of water, chemicals, and energy to produce a pair of jeans. To find out more, we took a trip to Unit 23, Shahi Exports’ Denim Unit in Bengaluru.

Pulling off Denim

Shahi set up the Denim Division in 2010, with Unit 23 in Bengaluru. Currently, Shahi has two denim garmenting units (Units 1 & 23) and a laundry with a production capacity of 12 million pieces per year. Since then, this newest addition has led the growth towards sustainable operations internally and with the customers.

“Judiciously utilizing the four essential resources— chemicals, energy, water, and our people define sustainability for us. Sustainable operations are not limited solely to environmental factors, but the well-being of our workers is equally important,” Mr. Nandheesh Gowda, General Manager, Laundry.

Shahi has adopted the Laundry 5.Zero strategy that has been predicted to revolutionize the denim industry.

We bring together cutting-edge technology from all over the world to make a truly global product, not just fashionable but sustainable.

Scrubbing the Chemical Out

Rethinking the production from the design stage, keeping in mind circularity, is key to ensuring the sustainability of the product. The design team at Shahi starts working from the initial stage– design to minimize the environmental impact of the production. We opt for lighter shades of denim which require a light wash. They demand significantly shorter washing cycles, thus reducing the environmental impact.

A pair of jeans can be ‘weathered or distressed’ using wet and dry finishing processes. Traditional methods of distressing the fabric require workers to scrub them by hand. As the scrubbing sheds layers of blue dust, it is harmful to workers’ health. The finishing process may also require washing with chemicals. Aligning with Laundry 5.Zero, Shahi uses laser technologies to reduce the use of grinders and scrubbers.

The intensity of the distressed look depends on three major factors: wavelength, power density, and pulse width of the laser beam. A computer inputs the desired design and guides the laser over the fabric to create a fading or distressed look. It concentrates heat to decompose the dye according to the desired wash style.

This novel technique provides an alternative to traditional methods such as acid washing, sandblasting, and using potassium permanganate and therefore helps us create a safe and comfortable working environment for our workers. Additionally, laser technology increases our flexibility, speed, and precision to meet significant production needs.

Shahi has developed a single window to facilitate the purchase of chemicals. It helps us to screen the required information about a chemical before purchasing it. The single window is compliant with international standards such as the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Manufacturing Restricted Substances List. It makes sure that we do not use any restricted chemicals harmful to the environment in our production and eases the procedure to procure the chemicals. Streamlining the process also helps Shahi align with the needs of our customers. The larger goal is to protect our production workers, local communities, and the environment from the impact of banned or hazardous chemicals and, ultimately, the consumer.

Shahi constantly collaborates with the best chemical suppliers to better their processes in the Denims Division.

Sustaining the Classic Blue

The classic blue in denim is created through water-intensive washing processes. A significant way to develop a more sustainable operation for producing denim is to focus on its water consumption. Shahi explored technology providers from around the world to bring down our material liquid ratio (MLR) from 1:6 to 1:1.

The principle

e-Flow technology was ideal for reducing water consumption. The technology turns the chemicals into nanobubbles before being subjected to the washing machine. Nanobubbles of air act as a carrier to transmit chemicals into a garment with a minimal quantity of water and zero discharge. This has led to an average of 95% water savings for every denim washed.

Another technology is the G2 Ozone washing machine, which generates ozone from the air to catalyze the indigo fiber dyeing and produces the authentic worn-down look in the desired shade. The water consumed is reduced by 65% and the energy by 20%. The ozone is re-converted into oxygen and released into the air, leaving no harmful by-products.

While reducing water consumption in denim production is essential, it is equally important to reduce dependence on fresh water as much as possible. By installing state-of-the-art effluent treatment plants, Shahi recycles and reuses 100% of its water usage. Our denim laundry achieved the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) standard in 2019. We constantly monitor the water conserved in laundry through our Environmental Impact Measurement (EIM) tools.

Going the Extra Mile on Energy

85% of the electrical energy consumed in Unit 23 is renewable. Additionally, the unit utilizes zero coal for its operations. Shahi set up a solar power plant of 84 megawatts and 9 megawatts of wind power. We aim to suffice 100% of our electricity needs with renewable sources by 2026. Substituting conventional sources for low carbon and sustainable alternatives for thermal energy is a top priority for Shahi.

We have several initiatives running across the units, for example— converting most of our high-speed diesel-fired boilers into agro-waste or PNG-fired boilers to generate steam.

Our newer units are built to incorporate green building principles to minimize energy consumption and leverage natural lighting on the shop floor. All the new units harness sunlight to illuminate our shop floors, and the architecture facilitates natural ventilation that reduces heat dissipation from electric lighting fixtures. The reduced temperatures on the shop floor impact our workforce and their environment directly.

Synergizing People and Resources

People and their well-being are integral to sustainability at Shahi, and worker well-being focuses on providing a safe and healthy environment and creating opportunities for growth.

In a study with the Good Business Lab, we observed that Replacing fluorescent lights with LEDs reduces energy consumption by roughly 85%, reducing the average indoor temperature by 2.4°C. Incidentally, a transition to LED lights also increases the workers’ productivity on the shop floor. 83% of all the lights at Unit 23 comprise LED lighting. We launched a campaign to replace conventional T8 task lamps with LED lighting for individual workers’.

What does it really take to pull it off?

With conscious consumerism on the rise, and the industry grappling with limited resources, the beloved go-to pair of denim will have to transform itself into its most low-impact versions that require minimal resources — and also maximize its life cycle. This means that manufacturers and brands have a pivotal role in revolutionizing the industry right from the designing stage.

Shahi invested significantly in state-of-the-art machine equipment to upgrade the factory and laundry facilities. To name a few of our many initiatives in the Denims Division—
- Laser machines from Jeanologia,
- Chemical auto dosing,
- Using Ozone, e-Flow, and other water-efficient technologies,
- Developing a single-window chemical purchase window to prevent the entry of restricted chemicals, and
- Collaborating with the best chemical suppliers.
Making it even better

But, Shahi is not stopping here. Our teams constantly look for ways to produce denim wear, maintaining Laundry 5.Zero principles; or synonymously ‘The Jeans of the Future.’ The key is to find the perfect set of equipment and technologies that complement each other in energy, water, and chemical consumption.

We are working on additional strategies like:

Unit 23 showcases sustainable operations at every step of the way and progressively eliminates processes that degrade the environment in bringing a piece of denim alive. We look forward to what the future of the denim industry beholds.
June 13, 2022
How Shahi created a first-of-its-kind circular dress
Inspired by nature, held by three pillars: innovation, design, and chemistry.

Does waste equal food? In the pre-industrialized economy, products had a natural biological cycle where the inputs naturally decomposed and served as nutrients for the planet. Products made out of metal were refurbished to make new ones. All the inputs derived from Earth ideally should go back to it. But, today, does waste still equal food for the planet? How do we envision growth in today’s world while prioritizing the environment? Is there a way we can manufacture products aligning with the growing population and their lifestyle choices without harming the environment, in fact, by nurturing it?

On asking a few people about what Cradle to Cradle is, I received a myriad of answers. Someone said it is probably a place where a baby sleeps. Some others hit it a little closer: a process for people to know how a product is truly made; a benchmark for sustainable products; and a design philosophy that genuinely outlines the lifecycle of a product focusing on the recycling mechanisms.

Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development at Shahi, says,

“Cradle to Cradle represents a way to make products that are in tune with nature and manufactured sustainably. The resources that are required to manufacture must be replenished and extracted ethically. You can imagine a world where we can produce as much as we want, and the reason we can do it is due to the positive impact and the life cycle of the product. We turn the waste into fuel.”

The Concept

Cradle to Cradle is a revolutionary design concept integrating two distinct fields — design and science to achieve a high level of sustainability. By focusing on doing ‘more good than less bad,’ Cradle to Cradle Certified® products create a positive ecological impact rather than simply minimizing their environmental footprint. The goal is not just to substitute harmful chemicals and other raw materials with more sustainable alternatives but also to rethink the lifecycle of products — from design to disintegration. The emphasis is on increasing durability. Once disintegrated, the value of the materials used in production is not lost but rather preserved and brought back to the loop.

Cradle-to-Grave vs Cradle-to-Cradle

Every raw material used counts. Each material holds immense value and should not end in a grave.

Five different aspects measure the holistic development of a Cradle to Cradle Certified® product: material health and re-utilization, renewable energy, carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. Each of these is given an achievement level based on the guidelines ranging from Bronze to Platinum. The products based on these principles can range from buildings and construction materials to cosmetics and textiles.

‘Arth,’ what does it mean?

In late 2018, Shahi was presented with an opportunity to become India’s first woven apparel and textiles manufacturer to create Cradle to Cradle Certified® products with our ‘Arth’ collection in partnership with C&A.

Arth symbolizes our responsibility towards the planet in a quest to find meaning behind ‘doing more good than less bad.’ Shahi received the Gold achievement level owing to its holistic performance on the parameters set by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Everything that comes from the Earth must return to it.

“The concept of Cradle to Cradle presents an opportunity to present our commitment towards circularity: everything that we utilize goes back safely to the environment. It was a pioneering step to add such product manufacturing capability to our organization. The dress (product) has motivated us to explore better raw materials and technologies; as it is also backed by a continuous improvement principle along with zero environmental impact and elimination of waste generation concept. We hope that we continue to work on exciting and innovative projects such as this one with our other stakeholders.”

– Rajneesh Rai, General Manager, Environmental Sustainability and Laboratory.

In this article, we share our learnings, insights, and the benefits, and opportunities for building our first Cradle to Cradle Certified® product by looking at the overall product development, materials, resources, social fairness, and the way forward.

Rethinking product development

Our product’s design and production processes are based on a circular economy model. At the end of its lifecycle, a Cradle to Cradle Certified® product is returned to the biosphere either as compost or reprocessed to make new products. Here is how we took on the opportunity to change our production pattern for this collection.

Design

Designing a Cradle to Cradle Certified® product demands many resources, dedication, perseverance, and openness to explore new areas. It took us more than 18 months from the inception of the product to deliver to our brand partner C&A. This period also includes the certification process for our facilities. The process has been significantly different from any other product we have manufactured. The changes in the processes also made us appreciate the speed of adaptation and the appetite for innovation at Shahi.

When we started designing the product from scratch, our progress was slow due to the lack of knowledge and resources available, coupled with the nationwide lockdown in early 2020. We began with a series of questions on which resources and techniques can be used in a Cradle to Cradle Certified® dress. They revolved around printing over the product, label of the garment, and use of Cradle to Cradle Certified® raw materials such as buttons and thread. The journey was made more accessible and collaborative with active involvement from C&A and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

The Arth collection sports a relaxed mid-length dress with buttons made from natural coconut, which breaks down with a biological cycle. The dress made us go back to the basics of designing. The boundaries put on using certain chemicals, dyes, and trimmings helped us become more innovative in constructing the Cradle to Cradle Certified® dress.

The ideation process required us to extend our imagination beyond the aesthetics of the design. We emphasize how easily the product can be disintegrated and put back in the cycle without losing any value. Keeping in mind the core principle of Cradle to Cradle Certified®, the focus has been to balance the dress’s design and durability. For this reason, the dress has a clean finish with minimum accessories.

Sona Mishra, the designer who developed the dress, says, “To make a Cradle to Cradle Certified® product, you must go back to your basics: silhouettes, minimal accessorization, and use of Cradle to Cradle Certified® raw materials, dyes, and auxiliaries. We were really able to bring out the essence of a truly circular product with this process.”

Material

The fabric was made at our state-of-the-art Woven Processing Division (WPD) in Shimoga using 100% Global Organic Textile Standard certified organic cotton. More than 96% of this cotton is rapidly renewable, and 86% of the water used in the fabric processing was recycled. The finished products are 100% carbon neutral and recyclable. The brand tag on the products was designed in-house using recyclable materials and procured from a verified vendor.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard lists restricted chemicals to avoid while manufacturing the products. An official Restricted Substance List indicates the maximum concentration of each restricted substance allowed in the products.

The material health and re-utilization category ensure that Cradle to Cradle Certified® products uses chemicals that are:
- Safe for society and the planet.
- It can be further recycled or bio-degraded through biological and technical cycles.
To avoid contamination with other chemicals, we diligently cleaned all the machines and equipment to be used to produce the

Machines were clearly marked and cleaned out for the Arth Collection

Arth collection. The production lines were separated and clearly marked for Cradle to Cradle Certified® production. We used alternative chemicals accepted under the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute guidelines.

Making a Cradle to Cradle Certified® product definitely demands more investment in raw materials. The key is to find the right blend that synchronizes together. Due to limitations in using chemicals for dyeing, we went ahead with two basic shades for the fabric: Black and Henna. evaluated the Material Health Certificate for products that adhere to restricted substances.

The material chemistry was independently assessed by MBDC Laboratory, USA on restricted substances and impacts on human health and the environment.

Our product developers, designers, and the environment team spent several months inventorying, assessing, and optimizing the material chemistry to achieve the platinum standard on material health and material re-utilization category. A platinum standard implies a material re-utilization score of 100, and the product is actively being recovered by a technical or biological mechanism.

The Footprint

The Cradle to Cradle design principle ensures that the products utilize renewable energy to minimize the release of greenhouse gasses along with efficient use of water during manufacturing. Shahi achieved the gold standard under Renewable Energy and Carbon Management and the platinum standard under Water Stewardship.

A significant factor in achieving this standard has been the state-of-art machinery available at the Wovens Processing Division that optimizes resource consumption throughout the entire process. The garments were made in two units (Unit 9 and 28) that successfully qualified the environmental and social requirements as laid down by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

Energy

The Wovens Processing Division facility in Shimoga runs on the power produced by our solar grid in Bellary, allowing us access to 96% renewable energy during the production process.

Water
The fabric was made in our processing mill, a Zero Liquid Discharge Facility.

Carbon Emissions

Cradle to Cradle certification, in many ways, is a step towards transparency. Accounting for the entire production process to make an authentic carbon neutral product, we purchased carbon credits to balance out the emissions for our boiler and garmenting units which now operate on renewable energy.

Labor and Social Fairness

Our factories run several technical and soft skill training programs to support our workers.

At Shahi, worker wellbeing is of utmost importance. Worker wellbeing focuses not just on providing a safe and healthy environment but also on creating opportunities for their growth. Shahi was the first manufacturer to co-create and pilot Gap Inc.’s P.A.C.E. program. Inspired by the immense power of the program, Shahi co-developed STITCH with Good Business Lab to enhance the core competencies and capacities of the supervisor to manage their key roles effectively. Our homegrown tool, Inache, is another example of our commitment to ensuring a healthy work environment by enabling workers’ voices. Inache is an anonymous two-way communication platform where workers can call or send an SMS about their complaints, grievances, suggestions, or questions. It goes to a central dashboard and then to the designated factory staff for response and resolution. It assists us in continuously monitoring and improving the grievance redressal system that facilitates transparency and a connection between the management and the workers.

These initiatives contributed to our achievement of the gold standard in the social fairness category.

Fair working conditions and respectful treatment of workers go hand in hand with any sustainable and circular venture. The Cradle to Cradle 4.0’s social fairness standards has emphasized ensuring a safe and conducive work environment. The broader focus areas include sound infrastructural arrangements, community engagements, and career growth. These parameters encourage responsible business practices and strong ethics across all stakeholders involved in the supply chain. Social fairness is analyzed under five distinct parameters: Management, Human Rights, Labor, Environment, and Anti-corruption at the facilities.

Building sustained relationships

C&A’s support and eagerness to collaborate in creating this collection revealed how important the role of brands as strategic partners in this effort to transition into a circular economy is. The Global Sourcing and Sustainability team at C&A said,

“Shahi continues to be a steadfast strategic partner for C&A and a driving force for innovation across the global fashion supply chain. When we began bringing Cradle to Cradle Certified® products to market, it was clear that Shahi would be a key partner in scaling Cradle to Cradle across categories. For a product and supply chain to become Cradle to Cradle Certified®, it takes an incredible amount of detail and commitment. However, it takes supply chain partners with a deep understanding of sustainability, innovation, and their importance to customers, brands, and suppliers. Shahi is a leading supplier in this regard, and we are deeply grateful for their continued partnership in driving circular innovation. We look forward to working together to drive to Cradle Certified® innovations and other ground-breaking sustainability initiatives forward.”

Shahi possesses the flexibility to direct resources in testing and refining sustainable and circular products. This allows for a co-creative space for research-based collaboration between brands and suppliers that holds the potential to drive change in the apparel and textiles industry.

Doing more good than less harm

The Arth collection has provided us with lots of learnings. The most crucial is that developing circular products at scale is possible. The need of the hour, is to encourage more conversations and awareness around Cradle to Cradle Certified® products. The demand for such a product must be established from a strategic point of view to build a circular economy collaboratively. Brands and customers form an essential part of driving this demand.

Shahi is looking forward to working with more and more brands on Cradle to Cradle Certified® products and getting closer to bettering our environment and production methods with each step. Its design principles enable a supplier like us to create products while nurturing the planet— doing more good than less harm. With our certified mill, we hope to collaborate with more and more sustainability-driven brands to create products that preserve their value.

Our journey towards a sustainable supply chain does not end here. We have been spearheading textile and garment innovation in India with projects like growing cotton with Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) in partnership with HKRITA and recycling pre-consumer cotton waste with Usha Yarns, among others.

For business inquiries on Cradle to Cradle Certified® products, please contact: od@shahi.co.in
March 29, 2022
Shahi featured in Documentary on GANT by BBC

The global average water footprint for 1kg of cotton is 10,000 liters. We believe that it is our responsibility to commit to a method of production that recycles water to reduce our water footprint and develop sustainable processes.

We have employed solutions like rainwater harvesting and invested water treatment technologies to curb our net use. We now have the ability to treat 95% of the water in our facilities. As more and more of our brand partners set ambitious sustainability targets, Shahi Pvt Ltd is keen to collaborate with them to create environmentally viable products.

An example of such a collaboration between Shahi and GANT was captured in this BBC mini-documentary highlighting the effectiveness of sustainable solutions from fiber to the finished product every step of the way.

Read more on our sustainable energy view more.

July 25, 2021