MUMBAI (Diya TV) — Iconic Indian fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who has been marking 25 years in business, gave a heartfelt address to the students attending the India Conference at Harvard University, which was sponsored in part by Diya TV.
Mukherjee, who began his venture with a mere $250, talked about the necessity of resilience as an entrepreneur. He attributed his success to being able to reconcile tangible assets like high-end craftsmanship with intangible assets like storytelling and authenticity behind the brand. His label, Sabyasachi, has become one of India’s largest luxury fashion brands, with an estimated turnover of around $57.9 million this year.
In 2021, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. bought a 51% stake in the company for almost $90 million. The designer emphasized the value of empathy as a leadership quality, saying that companies succeed when they create continuity and invest in people. He remembered the tough decision to keep workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing job security despite economic hardships.
Aside from fashion, Mukherjee has ventured into beauty and accessories with a successful lipstick series with Estée Lauder and plans to release a fragrance line soon. He views India’s luxury business as a developing force and wants to build up the business further in the Middle East, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Mukherjee is dedicated to creating a brand that lasts after he is gone, establishing India’s presence in the global luxury market. “I don’t want Sabyasachi to be a shooting star,” he said. “I want it to last.”
