Arvind of India Makes A Mark on Sustainability
Since it’s founding by Indian industrialist Kasturbhai Lalbhai in 1931, Arvind has led the way in manufacturing on a global scale. Located in Ahmedabad, India, over it’s 85-year tenure Arvind has become the world’s fourth largest denim manufacturer and boasts an installed capacity of over 110 million meters per annum. But make no mistake it’s not just quantity for Arvind, it’s quality. As one of the founding members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and an active member in Roadmap to Zero, an initiative to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals in apparel manufacturing, Arvind was recognized as one of the Global Denim Award’s Mills of the Year for 2016.
To learn more about Arvind and it’s sustainability success, Carved in Blue spoke with Stefano Aldighieri, Creative Director at Arvind, while he was in California before heading back to India.
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Carved In Blue: Congratulations on your win at Denim Awards in Amsterdam! Arvind is celebrated as pioneer in sustainability, what parts of production do you focus on the most.
Stefano: Thank you! The last few weeks after the announcement have been a bit hectic, to say the least. Sustainability has been integral to our company wide corporate policy with a focus on cotton, water, chemicals, and energy used in production.
Carved In Blue: So what sustainable fibers does Arvind use?
Stefano: We use organic cotton, BCI cotton, PCW [post consumer waste] recycled fiber, TENCEL® of course, and recycled PES. Although the jury is still out on recycled PES, in my opinion.
Carved In Blue: You participated in Transformers at Kingpins in Amsterdam. What was your greatest impression from the event. Do you think manufacturing can ‘transform?’
Stefano: Yes I was very impressed by the Transformers event. I think it’s a great opportunity for like-minded key industry players to discuss critical issues. I think the only way we can be instrumental to transforming our business is if we [manufacturers] all work together and set common goals. Educating the end users is also going to play a huge part..
Carved In Blue: Arvind recently launched an online customer portal, can you tell me more about how that works?
Stefano: Yes, it’s one initiative within a larger plan to refresh our online presence. The portal is still in beta right now, so I can’t talk about it too much yet. But I’d like to let our clients know to stay tuned as we continue to make improvements to our digital presence.
Carved In Blue: As one of the winners for the Global Denim Award’s, what is the significance of being selected as a mill of the year?
Stefano: I cannot express how please I was, and still am, with our win. I was absolutely delighted that the Global Denim Award’s jury understood what we are trying to do with the Khadi Denim project. It is a non-commercial initiative dedicated towards helping ancient Khadi techniques stay alive, and also to help the self-sustainability of villages in India. Really the award goes out to all the artisans who produce this wonderful fabric using skills passed down from generation to generation. It is a tribute to the past that helps us shape our future.
Carved In Blue: What is one thing you love about the denim industry?
Stefano: We share a passion for what we do. We love our product and the denim all over the world. We probably don’t take ourselves too seriously!
Carved In Blue: This one is for you specifically Stefano. How would you describe your style?
Stefano: Well I do not follow any trend. I simply wear what I like at the moment. I appreciate vintage styles, they’re classic and timeless.
Carved In Blue: What’s your favorite city to visit for inspiration and shopping?
Stefano: Maybe this will sound cliché, but I believe you can find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. I have the fortune of traveling all over the planet a lot, and I will be inspired during my time in India as much as when I am in America or Europe. Though I find shopping very stimulating in Japan, and my favorite vintage shop is in Canada! I do love walking around cities like Amsterdam where you can find surprisingly interesting small shops in the most unexpected places.
Carved In Blue: What does Carved In Blue mean to you?
Stefano: It’s a description of our life!