The global apparel industry has lost one of its most visionary and respected leaders. Shyam Lal Uttam, Director at Busana Remaja Agracipta, passed away recently, leaving behind a powerful legacy spanning decades of leadership across Southeast Asia and South Asia.
A mechanical engineering graduate from Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, he began his professional journey in 1977 with Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT). His career took a decisive turn when he was posted to Indonesia as Regional Manager for Southeast Asia. It was here that he transitioned into apparel manufacturing – a shift that would define the rest of his illustrious career.
After leading an Indonesian apparel company to a tenfold growth in turnover between 1983 and 1989, he founded Busana Remaja Agracipta in 1993.
He steered the company toward a focused product strategy, centering on women’s intimatewear – including bras, panties, shapewear, loungewear, activewear and sleepwear. Understanding the long-term implications of rising labour costs, he made the strategic decision to expand operations into Central Java, where lower wage structures helped improve sustainability and scalability.
Under his leadership, Busana Remaja Agracipta became a trusted partner to several global apparel brands, catering to the top two or three players in multiple international markets – from Australia and Japan to Europe and North America. His emphasis on quality over quantity, adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and a no-compromise approach to compliance and customer satisfaction distinguished the company from its competitors.
In 2002, he took another significant step by establishing Intimate Apparels Ltd. in Bangladesh – a subsidiary that has grown remarkably under the leadership of his son Vijay Uttam, and today contributes US $ 100 million to the group’s total turnover. Together, the group’s operations across Indonesia and Bangladesh now generate an annual revenue of over US $ 240 million.
As the industry mourns his loss, his legacy continues through the robust institutions he built, the thousands of lives he impacted, and the family that carries his vision forward.
The Apparel Resources team extends its deepest condolences to the Uttam family and all those whose lives he touched.
