From a modest home-based venture in 1974 to one of India’s largest apparel exporters, Shahi Exports’ growth reflects resilience, values, and a deep commitment to dignity, women’s empowerment, and responsible business. Divya Shetty explores the journey and the vision of Sarla Ahuja, Founder, Shahi Exports, that shaped this enduring legacy,
The early years of building Shahi Exports were marked by challenges that went far beyond finance or business operations. Ahuja was a young mother trying to build an enterprise at a time when women stepping out to work was often seen as defiance.
Early challenges
Neighbours objected to workers entering her home, while the husbands of women employees felt threatened by their growing independence. There were also instances where authorities objected to work being carried out from her residence, and machines were damaged during inspections. Alongside these pressures, she was raising two young sons and managing her household.
However, she refused to see these challenges as signs that she was wrong. She learnt to recover quickly from setbacks and move ahead before others expected her to. When clients failed to pay, she chose not to dwell on disappointment but to set boundaries and continue. Through it all, “what kept me going was faith and determination,” she recalls, adding that she always believed in her capabilities and had faith that she was on the right path.
Core values
Over 52 years, the apparel industry, technology and scale of operations have changed significantly, but Shahi’s core values have remained consistent.
For Ahuja, dignity at work has always been central. She believes that “every person who works with us deserves to be treated with dignity,” irrespective of their role. This belief was present when she had 10 women working from her home, and it continues to guide the company today.
Another enduring principle has been her belief in the power of work to transform women’s lives. She did not want to merely provide employment; she wanted those jobs to be sustainable. This meant helping women access their earnings, develop skills and gain confidence beyond the sewing machine. Having seen the impact closely, she believes “financial independence can transform not just an individual woman, but entire families across generations.”
Quality has also remained non-negotiable. In the export business, quality and timely delivery form the foundation of trust. As Shahi expanded across states and product categories, these values became even more important, because scale requires consistency.
Culture of care
Ahuja did not formally define Shahi’s culture in its early years. Instead, she built the organisation around the values she practised every day.
When she brought women into her home to work, she ensured they were comfortable, had food and that their children were looked after. She treated them the way she would want to be treated. At a time when workers were often seen only as units of output, this approach stood apart.
This culture of care did not disappear as the company grew. Her son, Harish, observed her way of working and carried those instincts forward in his leadership. Long-serving employees also absorbed and strengthened this people-first culture. Today, the same values are expressed through formal training programmes, partnerships and sustainability practices, but the foundation remains rooted in what Ahuja practised in her living room in 1974. As she puts it, “At Shahi, people will always come first.”
Key turning points
Several decisions shaped Shahi’s transformation from a growing business into an industry leader.
The first turning point was personal. Ahuja saw a woman in her neighbourhood running an export business and felt inspired to attempt the same. That thought became the starting point of Shahi’s journey.
A major business milestone came in 1988, when the company established manufacturing operations in Bengaluru. The decision was based on the stronger long-term manufacturing potential of the South, including infrastructure, workforce availability and operational stability. This gave Shahi a stronger foundation for future expansion.
In the early 2000s, Shahi built its own design and marketing capabilities. The company reduced dependence on intermediaries and brought key functions in-house. This shifted its role from being only a supplier to becoming a partner for global buyers. In Ahuja’s words, “we stopped being just a supplier. We became a partner for our buyers.”
Another defining decision was to structure the company into independent divisions, each with its own leadership. Though this meant giving up centralised control, it created focus, ownership and agility across the organisation. Looking back, she describes every major decision as “an act of faith” — in people, instincts and the belief that doing things right would eventually deliver results.
Adapting with purpose
The apparel industry has changed rapidly through advances in technology, sustainability requirements and global sourcing standards. Shahi adapted to these shifts without losing sight of its original identity.
The company moved from fax machines to computers, strengthened systems, upgraded teams and responded to evolving quality and compliance expectations from global brands. During the pandemic, it adapted workplace systems to manage COVID-related challenges. Ahuja says the company “never viewed adaptation as a threat to who we were,” because its identity was shaped not only by what it made, but by the values behind the work.
Sustainability has also become an important part of Shahi’s long-term growth approach. The company has invested in renewable energy, water conservation, responsible manufacturing practices and circularity initiatives. For Ahuja, “business success must go hand in hand with responsibility towards both people and the environment.” Shahi’s approach has therefore focused on building systems that are practical, scalable and meaningful over the long term.
Lasting legacy
When Ahuja began her journey, her ambition was modest. She wanted to earn a living, care for her children and help a few women around her do the same. She could not have imagined the scale Shahi would eventually achieve.
However, the legacy she values is not only the number of factories, employees or export markets. For her, “what matters to me is what happened inside all of those numbers” — the women who gained confidence, workers who trained others, children of factory workers who built successful lives, and families transformed through financial independence.
For Ahuja, Shahi is not just an apparel manufacturing company. It is an institution that has enabled people’s lives to change for the better. As she reflects, “if Shahi is remembered for proving that a business can be both successful and deeply humane, then I will feel that everything was worthwhile.”