HIRDARAMANI – The 100-year-old start up

From tailors to the sailors of the early 20th century to a multi-national apparel industry leader. Here’s how the Hirdaramani Group evolved, flourished and stayed competitive through the years.

Nikhil Hirdaramani, Group Director, Hirdaramani Group

Beginning as a single retail store in the heart of Colombo’s commercial district, the Hirdaramani Group began as a small tailoring company in the late 1800’s. At just 16, Parmanand Hirdaramani set up the first Hirdaramani retail store in Fort, Colombo. He made a name for himself in the early 1900s by introducing the concept of same-day tailoring to the passengers of cruise liners that docked at the Colombo Harbour. And so, the innovative Hirdaramani spirit took flight.

The company soon evolved into a growing merchant of garments, textiles, carpets and jewellery – opening retail stores in Colombo and Kandy in the mid 1940s.

It was in the early 1970s when Hirdaramani broke into the international export market with the creation of Ceylon Knit Trend Ltd. As globalisation of the fashion industry rapidly increased Hirdaramani expanded with the demand, building facilities throughout Sri Lanka and opening ventures in Bangladesh, Vietnam and in recent years Ethiopia.

In an ever competitive industry, Hirdaramani and its Directors attribute the company’s continued success to upholding sustainable and ethical business practices from the very beginning. Caring for their employees and the environment, Hirdaramani’s philosophy is that doing the right thing is simply good for business.

Sustainable manufacturing

Hirdaramani has made considerable advancements in the sustainable manufacturing space. In its washing plants the company has drastically reduced water usage by employing low liquor ratio washing machines and waterless washing through ozone technology. Chemical usage is optimized using state-of-the-art machinery. Furthermore, dry processes have been substituted with laser finishing, and 60% of output water is recycled. The company also places great significance in utilizing only Green Screen Chemicals in the manufacturing process, and meeting ZDHC standards. Across the group there is a strong focus on reducing waste to landfills and currently waste reduction is at 70%.

Hirdaramani Group is also approaching the issue at the design stage by taking into consideration the entire lifecycle of the garment, with a focus on eliminating 80% of waste and incorporating process efficiency at this stage. They are also focused on developing new fabrics and technologies working in collaboration with partners and customers.

By prioritizing sustainability in its business model, the Hirdaramani Group has set an industry benchmark, encouraging all apparel manufacturers across Sri Lanka to invest in restorative and regenerative processes in creating sustainable products for the betterment of their own practices, the country, and the environment.

LEED certification

Hirdaramani Woven Puthukudiyruppu was awarded the LEED Platinum certification established by the US Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The Hirdaramani Woven Puthukudiyruppu facility now joins Hirdaramani Woven Kahathuduwa as the highest LEED point scoring projects in Sri Lanka in the Industrial Manufacturing category, making Hirdaramani an industry leader. Hirdaramani continues to lead the way in sustainable manufacturing in Sri Lanka with 06 LEED certified facilities across the island.

The Hirdaramani Woven Puthukudiyruppu facility scores high on sustainable use of resources. It achieves a high rate for water efficiency, substantial reduction in energy use, use of recycled materials in its construction, good indoor air quality and as a result, achieved operational efficiency and reduced its carbon footprint.