A USD 44 bn conglomerate, the Aditya Birla Group has made its presence felt across industries, from cement to metals, telecom to financial services, fashion to textiles and many many more.
Be it the use of UltraTech Cement for the construction of someone’s dream home or something as basic and important as staying connected with people by using the facilities of telecom service provider Vodafone Idea, the products and services of the Aditya Birla Group have played an integral part in our lives.
Out of the large number of companies within the group, one which has had a direct presence for me is Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL). With Madura Fashion & Lifestyle comprising of brands like Forever 21, Allen Solly, Peter England, Van Heusen, etc. and Pantaloons under its belt, this fashion lifestyle entity has been my go to place for several occasions.
Pantaloons is one of the leading retailer stores in the lifestyle segment of the consumer market in India. For me, Pantaloons stands out as a fashion trendsetter, on the lines of how fashion is followed internationally. The ‘look’ and ‘what’s in’ today for the season is sacrosanct. Pantaloons is a place where I can find something for my whole family with great collections for all festivities under one roof.
What also catches my attention is the focus of the company towards the environment and giving back to the society. Steps taken by them such as use of sustainable manufacturing processes to conserve water and reducing energy consumption by use of LED lighting keep reminding us that along with being a profitable organization, one has to keep in mind the need of the hour, which is conserving the environment.
Another initiative is the Micro Manufacturing Unit (MMU) scheme of Madura Fashion, which aims to create entrepreneurs among the rural women by providing them the support to setup machinery and skill training has helped hundreds of women. This has been equally favorable for the company as they are now able to source their garments at a reduced cost.
The above two things- one; keeping in mind the needs and preferences of the customer and delivering beyond their expectations and on the other hand, keeping in mind the duty towards environment and giving back to the society is what lies at the crux of a successful organization. They are not only providing employment but also creating entrepreneurs. As someone who is at the beginning of the career trajectory, these pieces of learning inspire me go out and try to strike a balance between the two in the coming days.