Fashion ’n Family

A one time small retailer has branched out into a chain of six stores with plans to spread itself further in the northern market. IMAGES BoF profiles the New Delhi-based fashion store, Ritu Wears.

From a small traditional retailer of clothing in the busy Lajpat Nagar market, to a huge 50,000 sq ft outlet in Rohini, to an even bigger upcoming 75,000 sq ft mega store in Greater Noida, the growth has been simply – gigantic. Over the last three decades, Ritu Wears has evolved into a major player in the capital's fashion retail bazaar selling all – from apparel to furniture to furnishing.

On a major expansion mode, the retail chain of six stores plans to open more in Faridabad and Panipat in the next one year with an investment of Rs 10-12 crore each. It also plans to enter the retail market in Agra, Greater Noida, Dehradun and Punjab by 2009-10. Its immediate target, however, is to cross the psychological – Rs 100 crore mark – in the coming year and a turnover of Rs 200 crore by 2008. “We have grown over 1,000 per cent since our inception by Mrs JD Sahni in 1971. Modernisation, loyal customer base and the synergy of traditional retail with modern concepts and technology has helped us grow,” assets Samir Sahni, director, Ritu Wears.

The beginning

When and how did this journey start?

It was a simple housewife's hobby soon became a widow's only means to sustain her young children. Rituwears is Janak Dullari Sahni's contribution to the great Indian fashion retail story.

Janak D Sahni
"It was in 1971that a small space in New Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area was named Ritu Wears. Today, it occupies a total space of approximately 1 lakh sq ft. "


The year was 1967 when the hobby took shape into a part time business. Three years on, with the death of her architect husband, she was left with no choice, little money and three kids to take care of. Many may call it a compulsion, she defines it as ‘God's will', she bought a small space in New Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area and started a small garment shop named after her first born, Ritu and thus came about – Ritu Wears, today a retail chain spanning an area of approximately one lakh sq ft.

For the next fourteen years, she faced many a problem. However, as she says, “Apart from my strong will, four things always helped me to move on – honesty, hard work, being God fearing and the right attitude.”

“I came from an educated background. Nobody in my family had been into business. It was difficult for me to interact with established retailers. They had been theresince ages, running family business. However, it was my proper education that helped me succeed,” she elaborates.

“In spite of being a woman, I did not face much of a problem as I had the right attitude and I was always honest. I have taught both my sons the same values,” she adds.

In 1984, both her sons, Sanjay and Samir, took over the reins of the business and expanded it to the present form.