Weaving LEGACY

SUCHITA OSWAL-JAIN, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Vardhman Textiles, means business, particularly when it comes to weaving success in the world of textiles. By Radhika Sathe-Patwardhan

- Radhika Sathe-Patwardhan

Suchita Oswal-Jain is all about breaking stereotypes, while ensuring that business reaches greater heights under her leadership. She has been successfully running Vardhman Textiles— which has a turnover of $1.1 billion and is the country’s biggest textiles conglomerate engaged in the manufacture of yarn, fabric, threads, fibre and garments—for 20 years. In that time, she has also woven connections between Vardhman and global brands such as GAP, Esprit, Marks and Spencer, Uniqlo, Target, and Kohl’s.

Working her way through various departments after joining in 1990, and streamlining processes along the way, it took just a year for this dynamic lady to turn the company on its head (in a good way) and to introduce a woven fabrics division that is now the growth engine for the group. Today, the fabrics business contributes to about one-third of the group’s turnover, and ranks Vardhman among the top fabric manufacturers in the world. Here’s looking at her journey to date.

Armed with a masters in commerce from Punjab University, the Accelerated Development Programme from the London Business School, and the Leadership Development Programme from INSEAD, Paris, you could have easily started your own venture. What inspired you to join the family business?