A woman running the show on the apparel production floor has for long been a rare sight. The analogies to explicate on this stereotypical status quo are aplenty; however there are women who have tipped the scales to carve a formidable reputation. Team StitchWorld brings together three such dynamic women to narrate their journeys and their stimulants for it. Aishwarya Singh from JKME Exports has just begun her tryst with the field; Tanushree Mitra Ray, Lean Project Manager at Creative Clothex has spent half a decade on the job; and Shruti Mangla from Orion Conmerx is now in the top management of the enterprise as a Director after having spent several years in the trade.
Although at different, critical and distinct stages of their careers, in relation to each other, these women are unanimously and forthrightly passionate about their career choices. Below are excerpts from the conversation…; the common thread that binds them together is their stance shrugging off the glass ceiling and dismissing gender dynamics to achieve what they have.
Tell us about your journey into the apparel industry?
Shruti Mangla: I entered into the world of production through the Human Resource Department. I genuinely felt the need to manage our workforce better by reorganizing our working processes and making life simpler, both for ourselves and for them as well. I have an academic background of B.Com (Hons) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. Being the Director of Operations at Orion Conmerx Pvt. Ltd., I also look after the Finance Department of the company. Whatever knowledge and skills I have gained in the manufacturing arena has been the result of my own interest and efforts. However, having studied in an American Boarding School, I was brought up in an environment which gave lot of importance to following/living in a system. This has really helped me organize my thought process in my working environment today.
Tanushree Mitra: Academically, I hold an M.F.Tech degree from NIFT Delhi, which made my entry into the field extremely organic. I began as Assistant Production Manager at AMS Fashion Pvt. Ltd. – a Noida-based export house. I later went on to join Creative Clothex as PPC manager and for the last 5 years I have been working here. Recently, I got promoted to the profile of Lean Project Manager. So, now I am heading the PPC and post -order costing department.
Aishwarya Singh: Although I hold a degree in Electronics Engineering, but I have been inclined towards fashion since childood. My determination always fuelled me to work hard and now for the past two years, I have been assisting my father on the production floor of his export house. For me, it’s very interesting to be part of production. Every day you learn something new and interesting. Moreover, it has combined my passion for fashion and entrepreneurship.
What do you like the most about your job?
Shruti Mangla: I am a very process-oriented person, but at the core I am a very creative person and thrive in challenging myself to find system-based solutions for streamlining the manufacturing processes. Our industry has been an unorganized small scale cottage industry right from the outset due to which product construction/ technical skills have been handed down generation to generation. Good managerial skills have been lacking due to low education levels. And I like bridging this gap.
Tanushree Mitra: ‘Production’ is such an area where we can touch, feel and see our efforts in ‘garment’ form. I love everything about my job. To pick the utmost favourite, micro-planning is the part I enjoy the most.
Aishwarya Singh: It provides me an incredible appetite to learn.
What’s the most difficult part of your job?
Shruti Mangla: The most difficult part of my job is training people to understand the importance of keeping their workplaces neat and clean.
Tanushree Mitra: If TNA is not followed properly, there are high chances of faltering from the plan. Failing to adhere to the TNA, even for the most genuine of the reasons, sets off the most difficult part of the job – moving everything on track again and making up for the loss.
Aishwarya Singh: It has to be ensured that real time execution adheres to the planned timeline of production process. We’re faced with challenges every day, but as long as we approach our jobs in an authentic manner, everything unfolds the way it should.
Do you feel everyone should work in production (for few years) before moving on to Merchandising or General Administration?
Shruti Mangla: If one desires to be at the top management level of any manufacturing company, then yes. Operational excellence cannot be achieved in a manufacturing setup unless one is sensitive to the needs of the production department. This is because the success of a manufacturing concern depends on its ability to manage the physical and mental requirements of its workforce such that they are able to deliver right product at the right time. All other departments whether it be merchandising, HR, accounts or purchase are support systems to the production department, directly or indirectly.
Tanushree Mitra: I personally feel it is a wrong concept. But it can also be a matter of choice, the choice being – what does one want to achieve in life? Only fathomable reason for taking such a path before moving to merchandising would be learning the tricks of the trade so that the production department can’t fool one.
Aishwarya Singh: Yes.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Shruti Mangla: I see myself as leading our team to be one of the most preferred luxury brand leather product manufacturing destinations of the world, operating with a framework of innovative systems which provide the best work environment for our Indian workforce.
Tanushree Mitra: In five years from now, I see myself as the CEO of the organization.
Aishwarya Singh: I am looking at setting up an apparel export house and my own brand.
What advice do you have for anyone interested in a similar career?
Shruti Mangla: Throughout generations, two gender roles we women have always learnt to play immaculately have been – being good caretakers of our family (thereby good human beings); and two, managing our homes efficiently (i.e. workplaces). These are the two most important skills (along with interest in product) which one requires for managing production. Also, women are entering into many professions now which have historically been male-dominated. In my experience, anyone who has an open-minded approach and is system-oriented in their working methodology can be very successful in managing production irrespective of being a man or woman as in today’s business environment, performance is the key. We need workable solutions to be able to give results. Whether these solutions come from a man or a woman, it does not matter anymore. No woman should feel apprehensive of considering this as a viable career option.
Tanushree Mitra: Few qualities that are imperative for a person to have a successful career in this field include having a good grasp over analytics and interpretations, a strong head and confidence to take decisions.
Aishwarya Singh: Prioritize, follow up, check everything and then double-check. Thereafter dive in and fully dedicate yourself to the work.
Share some interesting incidents on the shop floor that made it worthwhile to be there.
Shruti Mangla: Once an operator on the shop floor had gone for a pilgrimage and brought back a small picture of Guru Nanak Ji for me. He told me that he had gone to pray for my long life.
Has your gender ever been a constraint?
Shruti Mangla: Yes, only in the initial stages of joining though, as I had no work experience.
Tanushree Mitra: Till now, I haven’t faced any problems. But yes, people often ask me in wonder, if I have chosen the production field myself.
Does male-dominated workforce pose any challenge for you; or do you see this as an advantage?
Shruti Mangla: A male-dominated workforce does not pose as a challenge for me at all. In fact being a woman has worked to my advantage as women are more empathetic than men and thus draw better attention from a male-dominated workforce.
Tanushree Mitra: Today, there is no such difference in male or female workforce till the time the work is being finished and the milestones are met. It’s like dealing with one’s own kid by alternating between being strict and rewarding, and recognizing the good job.
Aishwarya Singh: No, the fact that the workforce is male-dominated has never posed a challenge for me. Instead, I feel that men comply better with the orders when given by a female manager.
How do you balance work and personal life?
Shruti Mangla: I try to maximize the productivity during my office hours so that I can rush home by 5:30-6:00 PM every day. During office hours, my focus is always to invest time to train people and find system-based easy to follow solutions for whatever areas that need improvement. This in turn translates into less fire-fighting and allows me to have undisturbed personal time.
Tanushree Mitra: It is difficult but manageable. Luckily, my family and the organization with which I am associated for the last 5 years, both are very much supportive. At the work place, I try to utilize the time as much as possible and try to finish work on time. And obviously I make next day’s ‘to do’ list before leaving office. When I am at home, I do the same.
Aishwarya Singh: I have developed a routine for myself that allows me to recharge and add value to my life such as reserved time for family activities and a yearly vacation. Also, it gives me extra motivation to manage others’ time well.
What do you do in your free time?
Shruti Mangla: My family is my joy, happiness…, my all. I love to spend all my free time with them. I have also been teaching yoga for 10 years now. This serves as oxygen for me as it has brought me health, happiness and everlasting friendships.
Tanushree Mitra: I love reading books. Whenever I get time, like in lunch break, in the evening time, I read. Another stress buster is Sudoku.
Aishwarya Singh: Yoga is the ultimate stress buster for me.
Do you like to read and update your skills? What books impressed you the most?
Shruti Mangla: The second most loved recreational activity in my life (after yoga) is reading books. I mostly read biographies of great men. Lately, the book that has had the most impact on me has been ‘The Power of the Subconscious Mind’ by Dr. Joseph Murphy.
Tanushree Mitra: There is one book named ‘The Goal’ by Eliyaho M. Goldratt. In my opinion, it’s a must-read book for everyone. Other than that, I like biographies, fictions and management-related books.
Aishwarya Singh: In order to upgrade my skills, I am planning to learn CAD. Books that have actually impressed me the most are ‘One Minute Manager’ by Ken Blanchard, ‘The Greatest Salesman in the World’ by OG Mandino, ‘You Can Win’ by Shiv Khera, and ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen R Covey.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
