In a move that reverberates through the textile corridors of history, Arvind Limited - the Indian conglomerate that has dressed generations in denim and more - announced a dual expansion last week: a new subsidiary, Arvind Atelier, in Sharjah's free zone, and a Design Hub in London. For those of us who trace the intimate architecture of fashion, this is not merely a logistics play. It is a reminder that the global garment trade, from the whalebone corsets of the 19th century to today's seamless wireless bras, has always relied on such transcontinental choreography.
Arvind Atelier will coordinate sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics across denim, casual wear, knits, and activewear - categories that increasingly blur into lingerie's own evolution. The London hub, meanwhile, will channel trend insights and customer engagement, much like the ateliers of 1920s Paris that first transformed undergarments from hidden utility into visible fashion statements. Arvind, already one of the world's leading denim manufacturers (with an annual capacity exceeding 110 million meters), now positions itself as a "single strategic sourcing partner" for brands seeking speed and sustainability across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
This expansion also nods to a deeper historical pattern: the UK - India trade agreement, anticipated to bolster textile ties, recalls the East India Company's role in flooding Europe with Indian cottons - fabrics that eventually liberated women from heavy, structured corsetry. Today, Arvind's 37 million garments and 128 million meters of woven fabric per year echo that same global flow, now tuned to agility and responsible manufacturing.
With Rakesh Chadha, a three-decade veteran of global sourcing, at the helm of Arvind Atelier, the company is weaving a narrative that connects the loom to the lingerie drawer - proving that even the most intimate garments are shaped by the grand, unseen machinery of trade.
Originally reported by WWD