Oldest Textile Company in India: A Quick Look at Its Roots and Impact

Ever wondered which Indian firm started weaving cloth centuries ago? The answer takes you back to the early 1800s, when a small workshop in Ahmedabad began turning cotton into fabric for local traders. That modest operation grew into what many call the oldest textile company in the country, and its story still teaches modern manufacturers a lot.

How the Company Got Its Start

The founder, a savvy merchant named Jamsetji, set up a hand‑loom unit on a riverbank where water was cheap and cotton was plentiful. He hired a handful of skilled weavers, imported a few basic tools, and focused on quality over quantity. Within a decade the business was supplying cloth to regional markets and even exporting a small batch to ports in Bombay.

What made the company stand out was its early adoption of power looms. While most rivals stuck to manual weaving, Jamsetji invested in a steam‑driven loom in the 1850s. That move cut production time in half and opened doors to larger contracts with the British textile traders arriving after the 1857 revolt.

Key Milestones That Shaped the Industry

By the turn of the 20th century the firm had expanded its facilities, added a dyeing unit, and started training its own workforce. The company’s dye house became famous for a vibrant indigo shade that still pops in heritage collections today.

During the 1940s, when India fought for independence, the textile mill played a crucial role in the Swadeshi movement. It switched to locally sourced yarn and encouraged workers to wear Indian‑made fabrics, boosting national pride. After independence, the factory modernized again, installing synthetic fiber lines and launching a ready‑made garment section.

Fast forward to the 1990s, the company embraced computer‑controlled looms and entered the global export market. Today it ships millions of meters of fabric to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa while still keeping a small heritage wing where visitors can see original hand‑loom equipment.

If you’re looking to research the oldest textile company, start with local archives in Ahmedabad and the state’s industrial museum. Those places hold original ledgers, old photographs, and even the first factory blueprint. Online, the company’s own website often shares a timeline that highlights each major upgrade.

Why does this history matter to you? Whether you’re a startup textile designer, a student of industrial heritage, or just curious about where your favorite cotton shirt comes from, understanding the oldest firm’s journey shows how innovation, quality focus, and adaptability can keep a business alive for over two centuries.

So next time you touch a piece of fabric, remember there’s a story that started on a riverbank centuries ago, and that story still guides modern mills across the globe.