Tale Of The Iconic Textile Mills Of Bombay

Known as the Maximum City, Mumbai’s status as the financial capital has roots in the city’s rich textile mills that were spread across in the early 19th century.

Mumbai, in those times known as Bombay, was called the Manchester of the East. The Indian businessmen during this period saw a huge opportunity to export cotton to Britain and thus established the first Indian cotton mill, ‘The Bombay Spinning Mill’, in 1854. This made Bombay a huge industrial hub with the finest cotton being produced on its shores.

Photo Courtesy: Word Press

Over time the city saw around 130 textile mills producing cotton, which was central to the economy by the 20th century. The area of Girangaon, had the maximum number of mills and was referred to as the “Village of Mills”. This contributed majorly to the growth of the textile and cotton industry.

However, these glorious times saw an abrupt shutdown during the Great Bombay textile strike that took place in 1982. The reasons for the decline were many; protests by workers for better wages and emergence of new industries completely eroded the textile mills by the end of the 20th century. This led to a significant chunk of mill workers and their descendants leaving Mumbai.

Photo Courtesy: Kunal Ghevaria_Flickr

Today, these mill lands have been acquired and redeveloped into glitzy malls and commercial spaces. A stroll down the area of Lower Parel you will see Phoenix Mills, Kamala Mills, Todi Mills and many more lined up with branded stores, studios, fine dine restaurants and cafes. It is hard to imagine now, this same place had been the site of hard work for innumerable working class people for over a century. A site that saw many dreams take flight but even saw its demise.

Photo Courtesy: Past-India

These mills were the early testimony of Bombay’s tryst with textile and fashion. While there are no signs of the history apart from some depilated spaces, the textile mills put Mumbai on the map of being a hub for an industry that today is flourishing with great designers and the big Bollywood stars who are fashion icons.

Photo Courtesy: https://www.tata.com/

Times may have changed, the purpose of the walls of the mills have changed, the people occupying the mill spaces have changed but the towering chimneys tell us a story of the golden times that made Mumbai the City of Dream’s.

Photo Courtesy: Phoenix Mills

Needle and Quest aims to preserve that rich heritage of Bombay and narrate the tales of hard work and craftsmanship through our suit ensemble and products.