New Delhi: “The future belongs to those who disrupt themselves before being disrupted,” said Kulin Lalbhai, vice chairman of Arvind in a powerful keynote address at The Economic Times Great India Retail Summit 2025 held in Mumbai last month.
From Arvind’s 120-year journey—bringing denim to India and building iconic brands like Arrow, Flying Machine, U.S. Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein—Lalbhai highlighted that reinvention is the only way for businesses to survive. “Retail has always centered around the store, but today, the real battleground is the smartphone,” he emphasized.
India’s fashion sector is a USD 100 billion industry, growing at 10 per cent annually. Yet, brands struggle with intense competition and fluctuating consumer demand, Lalbhai said, adding, “While we discuss sluggish consumption, the same market saw Mahindra sell Rs 9,000 crore worth of EVs in a single day. There is demand, but brands must evolve to tap into it.”
He outlined three transformational shifts fashion brands must embrace to stay ahead: Becoming Smarter – AI will replace manual planning across design, sourcing, merchandising, and marketing. Becoming Faster – Rapid inventory turns and real-time trend adaptation are the new norm, and Becoming Greener – Sustainability is no longer optional.
Lalbhai concluded his address with a call to action. “Retail’s next phase isn’t about keeping up—it’s about leading the disruption.”
