In 1978, Vimal was rebranded as Only Vimal, and through an innovative advertising campaign, it was marketed as a premium fabric brand for the youth. In 1979, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani organized the first Vimal fashion show. Vimal became the one-stop destination for the average Indian family's textile purchases: shirting, suiting, saris, dress materials, and furnishing fabrics.
Image courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Shri Dhirubhai Ambani is showing the exporters the Naroda Mill's fabric printing machinery imported from Switzerland.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
A logo of the Vimal brand, that was launched by Shri Dhirubhai Ambani in the late 1960s. It was named after Shri Dhirubhai Ambani's brother Ramnikbhai's son, Vimal Ambani.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
In 1978, Vimal was rebranded as Only Vimal, and through an innovative advertising campaign, it was marketed as a premium fabric brand for the youth. In 1979, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani organized the first Vimal fashion show. Vimal became the one-stop destination for the average Indian family's textile purchases: shirting, suiting, saris, dress materials, and furnishing fabrics.
Image courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Jamanbhai Mehta, a friend and colleague of Shri Dhirubhai Ambani from Aden, displays Vimal fabric for Shri Bose Mullick, the Commerce Secretary, at the first exclusive Vimal showroom that opened in 1972 near Opera House, Bombay.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Photo from the early 1980s shows Shri Dhirubhai Ambani and Smt. Kokilaben Ambani with their children, Shri Anil Ambani, Shri Mukesh Ambani, Smt. Dipti Ambani and Smt. Nina Ambani, all are wearing clothes made from Vimal fabric. The family had by then shifted to the 22nd floor of Usha Kiran on Carmichael Road which offered a breathtaking view of Bombay.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Shri Dhirubhai Ambani always wore trousers made from Vimal fabric and insisted that his children wear Vimal too. A photograph of his two daughters, Dipti and Nina, wearing Vimal dresses held pride of place on his table.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Initially, Vimal was not readily accepted by traders in Ahmedabad and Bombay who were controlled by long-established textile tycoons. Shri Dhirubhai Ambani decided to bypass the wholesaler and take Vimal directly to the customer. In 1972, Vimal opened its first exclusive showroom at Roxy Theatre, near the Opera House, Bombay.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Reliance Naroda began with four German wrap knitting machines and a processing house. The design team was soon churning out 2,200 designs every month. Reliance Naroda mill would lead a textile revolution in India and become the birthplace of 'Vimal'—the most iconic brand in the history of textile manufacturing in India.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.