The apparel manufacturing business in India demands speed, quality and scale. Active Clothing Co. Ltd. has grown by focusing on all three.
Founded over three decades ago by Rajesh Mehra, the Mohali-based company manufactures more than five million pieces annually, spanning flat-knit sweaters, circular knits, outerwear jackets, and shoe uppers, for marquee international brands such as Levi’s, Celio, Skechers, and Adidas.
Under the leadership of COO Kalika Mehra, along with her sister Avinisha, VP, and their mother Renu Mehra, Chairperson the company is on a strong growth path.
In recent years, the company has focused on improving how it operates and how it plans for the future. This includes the launch of the “KNIT TO SHAPE” Smart Knitting Factory, which uses automation and focuses on reducing waste, as well as the approval of a US $2.51 million preferential issue to support expansion. These efforts are reflected in the company’s performance, with total income reaching ₹97.36 crore (US $10.71 million) in Q3 FY ’26.
Kalika, a fashion design graduate from the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT) who has spent the last 12 years shaping the business, says the focus has been on modernising how the company works.
“As a next-gen leader, we introduced more modern ways of working that
focus on building an inclusive, performance-driven organisation. We’ve shifted from personality-led operations to system-led execution – where processes and data speak louder than individuals,” said Kalika.
The company’s quality department, once seen as male-dominated, has undergone a clear shift. Women have been inducted and trained in this function, with several growing from shop-floor roles into positions such as process auditors and buyer-certified auditors. The organisation also
supports women with basic education through structured training, helping them move into supervisory, coordination, and production monitoring roles.
According to Kalika, the biggest challenge as a woman leader has not been gender bias alone, as the industry has become more progressive, but earning respect through one’s work and decisions.
“Leading a reputed organisation requires you to influence and inspire through consistent performance,” she said. “I focus on results, strong systems, and clear decision-making, rather than authority alone.”
What she values the most is her connection with the people she works with. The trust, support, and small gestures of appreciation from her team are deeply meaningful to her and make the journey worthwhile.
At the same time, she hopes the apparel industry can attract more young talent, especially in core manufacturing roles. Many young professionals still hesitate to join factories because they see the work as old-fashioned or too demanding.
