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Bombay Dyeing: Bring Style Home

One of the India’s largest producers of textile since 1879, Bombay Dyeing is also one of the oldest companies in the country

Bombay Dyeing is one of India’s largest producers of textiles. The daily production at Bombay Dyeing exceeds 300,000 meters of fabrics and it has a distribution chain consisting of 600 plus exclusive shops spread all over the country. Bombay. Apart from the textiles, Bombay Dyeing also deals in the chemicals.

Group heritage

Bombay Dyeing is part of the Wadia Group, which is more than 250 years old. Wadia Group initially ventured into the area of ship building, and more than 355 ships were designed and built by the Group, including men-of-war for the British Navy. As the industrialization grew in the 19th century, so did the trading, and new opportunities for business. In the late 19th century, Bombay was one of the major cotton ports of the world.

Nowrosjee Wadia sensed an opportunity in India’s mushrooming textile industry and on August 23, 1879, Bombay Dyeing was founded in a humble redbrick shed. Since then, Bombay Dyeing has grown into one of India’s largest producer of textiles. The company also diversified and pioneered the manufacturing of various chemicals.

Along the path of growth and diversification, Bombay Dyeing has spawned dozens of other companies. In technical and financial collaboration with world leaders, such companies have pioneered the manufacture of various chemicals and have grown to be leaders in their new fields.

With the wave of industrialization in the 19^th century, trading grew, and with it, opportunities for new areas of business. In 1879, Bombay was next only to New Orleans as the world’s largest cotton port. It was at this time that Nowrosjee Wadia set his sights on India’s mushrooming textile industry. On August 23rd, in a humble redbrick shed, he began a small operation. Here, cotton yarn spun in India was dip dyed by hand in three colours-turkey red, green and orange-and laid out in the sun to dry.

The 19th century witnessed a new wave in industrialization. Trading grew, and with it opportunities for new areas of business. The craft of spinning and weaving fine cloth had historically been associated with India. In 1879, Bombay was the second largest cotton port in the world. The country’s textile industry was mushrooming and Nowrosjee, was the right man in the right place at the right time.

On August 23, of that year, in a humble red-brick shed Nowrosjee, began a small dye works, the first of its kind in India. Here, cotton yarn spun in India was dip-dyed by hand in three colours – turkey red, green and orange and laid out in the sun to dry. It was history in the making. The Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Company Ltd. had been born. Throughout the 116 years that allowed, the company has successfully grown into one of India’s largest producers of textiles.

Along the path of growth, the Wadias have diversified into various fields of industry and commerce. The diversification was multidirectional (Chemicals, agro-products, light engineering, electronics, consultancy and architecture) in technical and financial collaboration with world leaders. The new companies under the Wadia banner have been pioneers and are now leaders in their respective fields.

It was more than just a company, Bombay Dyeing that was born, in 1879, it was a legacy. A legacy that would give rise to one of India’s most respected business houses – The Wadia Group.

The Wadia Group today

With 132 years at the forefront of industry in India, the Wadia Group is today broadly diversified in several growth industries that cover airlines, textiles, chemicals, petrochemicals, plantations, foods, electronics, light engineering, health, laminates, real estate and consultancy. Consistently, the Group companies have emerged as market leaders in fields they have entered. And over the years the Group has developed an enviable record of successfully managing diverse technologies.

For the year ended March 31, 2011, the Bombay Dyeing posted a net profit of Rs 21.39 crore, compared to Rs 18.42 crore in the same period last fiscal. Net sales of the firm rose to Rs 1,886.47 crore for the year ended March 31, 2011, as against Rs 1,642.76 crore in the previous fiscal.