Due to lack of space in Bombay, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani scouted in Gujarat, his home state, to find a suitable land for a textile mill. In February 1966, he bought a 10,000 sq. yard plot at Naroda. He also bought the plots of factories around it that were facing business losses. Soon, the textile mill at Naroda spread over 125 acres.
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Printing master Shanbaug, who joined Reliance in its early days and helped set up Reliance Textiles, looks on as Shri Dhirubhai Ambani explains to foreign exporters the mill’s 12-colour automatic roller printing plant, imported from Switzerland.
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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.
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The establishment of the Reliance textile mill at Naroda marked Shri Dhirubhai Ambani's move from yarn trading to fabric manufacturing. Reliance Commercial Corporation now became Reliance Textile Industries Private Limited. Here, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani is displaying the German warp knitting machinery at Reliance Naroda.
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In the 60s, the Ambani family and business both grew steadily and had to find new addresses. In 1962, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani shifted his family from Bhuleshwar to a flat in Alt View on Altamount Road. Their youngest child, Smt. Nina Ambani was born during their stay here. In 1965, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani moved Reliance into a sprawling new office at Court House, Dhobi Talao.
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By 1964, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani had made a name for himself in the Bombay yarn market. He was made director of the Bombay Yarn Merchants’ Association and Exchange Ltd. in 1964. As the director, he brought about transparent practices and wage regulation of mathadi workers; handcart pullers who hauled goods.
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With the profits from yarn trading, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani bought his first car, a Fiat, in 1963. Its registration number was 8404.
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Although profitable, the spice business was not enough for Shri Dhirubhai Ambani. Ever restless to find more growth opportunities, he shifted to yarn trading. This was a risky business, but there were also margins to be made. Shri Dhirubhai Ambani started buying and selling different types of yarn, first in small quantities, then in ever-increasing volumes.
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In February 1958, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani started Reliance Commercial Corporation in partnership with Shri Trambhakbhai Damani. When asked why he chose to name his company Reliance, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani said, 'I saw it written somewhere and it stayed in my mind.'
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