On 29th August, the Indian apparel and textile industry gathered in Mumbai not just to felicitate a milestone, but to celebrate a man whose life has been woven into its very fabric. Rahul Mehta — affectionately known as Rahul Bhai — turned 75 this month, and in true Rahul Bhai style, the occasion became more than a felicitation. It became a masterclass in humility, humour, and history, as the industry’s Chief Mentor recounted anecdotes from his five-decade journey, blending self-deprecation with sharp insight.
From Paints to Pants: The Reluctant Entrepreneur
Few leaders in Indian fashion have had a career arc as unusual as Rahul Bhai’s. After completing his MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj in 1971, he began his career at Goodlass Nerolac Paints, rising to India Sales Manager by 1982. Fate — and persuasion from Vijay Agarwal of Creative Garments — brought him into apparel, though he candidly admits he was never cut out to be an entrepreneur.
“If someone were to write a book on me,” he quipped at the celebration, “it wouldn’t be The Accidental Entrepreneur but The Reluctant Entrepreneur. As my partner Vijay often says, I lacked two essential qualities: a love for money and a burning desire to destroy the competition. Without those, you can never become another Ambani. Though I must add with some pride — once, an Ambani did ask me for advice on whether to enter garments. For those wondering, that was Vimal Ambani — not Mukesh!”
Building Creative and Creating Trends
Once at Creative Garments, Rahul Bhai helped script some of Indian fashion’s most memorable chapters. He pioneered UFO Jeans in the 1980s, introduced acid-wash and torn denims when many thought they were “defective jeans,” and rolled out India’s first chain-store concept, Victoria Terminus, in 1985 across 13 cities. His portfolio of homegrown successes grew to include Creative Casuals, Creative Cottons, 109F, Fusion Beats, Portico, and Urban Republic.
He fondly recalled stitching trousers from discarded Bata canvas and selling cotton shirts for ₹65 and trousers for ₹85. “In the year we launched Creative Cottons, we sold 95,000 trousers,” he said with quiet pride.
But his favourite memories are often tinged with humour. When one of India’s leading dealer asked to see samples, his associate V M Kulkarni presented trousers. The dealer frowned: “These are pants, I asked for trousers!” — a sign of how unfamiliar even basic terminology was in those early years.
The Anecdotes That Still Make Him Laugh
Rahul Bhai’s warmth lies in his ability to laugh at himself. He recounted how signing a message simply “Rahul” to B. S. Nagesh once led to mistaken identity. Only when he clarified, “I am Rahul Bhai,” did the confusion end — though the name stuck so firmly that even Bindu-ben calls him that now.
Equally memorable was his first run-in with Nagesh at a CMAI fair, where Rahul Bhai denied him entry because he wasn’t yet a retailer but carried a real estate business card. “Kudos to him,” he chuckled, “that despite our stormy beginning, we are still friends after all these years.”
And when Creative celebrated selling 5,000 jeans in a month, the company threw a party for 100 retailers — a milestone that seems charmingly modest today.
Beyond Business: Leadership and Mentorship
Rahul Bhai’s influence goes well beyond garments. He served seven consecutive terms as CMAI President and now guides as its Chief Mentor. He was the first Indian and only the second Asian to lead the International Apparel Federation, elevating India’s stature globally. Governments have relied on him as a member of committees and task forces.
A strong advocate of education, he has chaired the board of SOFT Pune, served as Vice Chair at IAM Delhi, and spent six years on NIFT’s Board of Governors. He remains a beloved visiting faculty, known for mixing sharp insights with humour.
As an Independent Director, he has contributed to Pearl Global, Banswara Syntex, Nandan Denim, and more, while his love for theatre has seen him win accolades as playwright, director, and actor.
A Night of Industry Camaraderie
The 75th birthday felicitation on 29th August — thanks to the initiative of Vijayalaxmi Poddar and Rakesh Biyani of Nexon Omniverse with support from senior CMAI stalwarts and younger leaders — turned into a showcase of the deep affection Rahul Bhai commands.
From stalwarts like Kishore Biyani, Akhilesh Prasad, B. S. Nagesh, and Ashish Dixit to younger leaders like Sanjay Vakharia of Spykar, Kamal Khuslani of Mufti Jeans, Sangeeta Pendurkar of Pantaloons and Santosh Kataria of Peppermint Clothing, the gathering spanned generations. The presence of retail giants, manufacturers, veterans, and women leaders alike underscored a truth: Rahul Bhai is not just respected, he is cherished.
The Final Word
Perhaps the most poignant reflection of the evening came when Rahul Bhai compared the solidarity of the industry during past crises — such as the introduction of excise duty, when Noel Tata, Sanjay Lalbhai, and Gautam Singhania all convened — to the unity displayed at his celebration.
Through humour and humility, Rahul Mehta reminded the industry why he remains its north star. He may call himself the reluctant entrepreneur, but to generations of colleagues, students, and friends, he is the rare leader who stitched together an industry with vision, grace, and laughter.
