As Baggit celebrates its 24th birthday this week, with a 10% discount on purchases made at their exclusive stores and online site, I thought it very appropriate to observe some interesting facts about this home-grown Indian brand that is growing at an astounding rate.
• Nina Lekhi, the effervescent founder of Baggit, first started making bags in November 1985 after purchasing some raw material from Crawford Market, Mumbai, with a seed capital of INR 7,000, borrowed from her mother.
• Baggit manufactures strictly cruelty-free, environment friendly, non-leather products. That this realization should have occurred to the then younger Nina, when there wasn’t much noise about protecting the environment, is commendable.
• Though the brand as we know it today came into existence in 1989, it wasn’t until the year 2000 that it made its way to large format retail stores and until 2007 for its first exclusive outlet, in Atria Mall, Mumbai.
• Baggit is coming up with its first overseas store in Saudi Arabia.
• Nina was recognized in 2005 by Business Today, as one of 50 most powerful business women of this country.
• Baggit focuses on overall employee well-being by stocking only fat-free food at its cafeterias for sound physical health and incorporating Siddha Samadi Yoga ideology into work for stress-free mental health. Operations cease for 2 days every six months, when all employees scoot off to meditate amidst nature.
• The brand has its own Corporate Social Responsibility footprint by enabling rural women to become financially independent by training them in various arts and crafts. Truly a holistic brand.
• Though one would think men’s range offers limited creative potential, Baggit has won an award for it for exclusive men’s line.
• Growing at a CAGR of 30%, it’s a pity that Baggit is not a listed company.
• The tag line ‘Quite Like Me’ is very apt, as every woman would find some design or the other to their liking amidst its ever expanding range.
For me, entering Baggit stores is always filled with excitement, as I know there will be something new, something different and something that would appeal to me, in every corner! Here’s wishing Baggit explosive growth in the coming years!
All Images Courtesy: Baggit Official website
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