Interview with Artistic Milliner's Chairman Mr.Yaqoob Ahmed

1. Please tell us about the history of Artistic Milliners?
Artistic Milliners was established in 1949 in Pakistan. My
parents migrated from Bombay and started doing business in
Karachi with the finances brought from India. My father (Mr.
Ahmed Omer) also tried his hand in leather business which was
quite a successful venture at that point in time. Very early I
realized that my father has certain charisma and great
confidence which inspires me even today.
In 1968 we started exports of ready-made garment for the
first time and later did backward integration all the way till
weaving and now spinning as well.
I would like to highlight the fact whenever we put a new
factory even in most challenging times in the country, we take a
middle path, Not rushing into new ventures without forward
planning. The key to our success is gradual and steady
achievements, built on our credible reputation.
We have observed the progress of Artistic Milliners over the
last 20 or more years, what are the key parameters of success,
which makes your group different from others?
You must understand that there is not just one key factor to
success. Generally speaking, I believe that the first and foremost
aspect is that, “you have to be passionate about your business,
to have hands on involvement in your business and to be
honest, reliable and hardworking.” That is my business
philosophy which has taken us forward and we look into future
with great long term prospects.
“You can be anything in this world, once you establish your
credibility and if you are reliable; your customers will also value
your business and be your partners in the long term growth.
Our philosophy which made this progress possible is that we
are open to new ideas in business. Therefore, whenever, we
have faced a challenge or offered a business opportunity, we are
more than willing to give it a chance and develop it further.
Over the years, our country has faced many recessionary
trends and yet as a company we were able to prosper and were
never affected by those storms. But please note it is a matter of
our own choice and careful planning when it comes to
expansion and investments. I believe that Denim is an art and
without proper R&D, different fashion designs and marketing
channels, it is not possible to excel in this trade. In our trade you
need be an entrepreneur who is passionate about this business,
and has developed an expertise and aptitude to be in this
business.
“Denim is an art, and without
proper R&D, different & innovative
fashion designs and marketing it
is not possible to excel.”
Mr. Yaqoob Ahmed, the CEO of Artistic Milliners speaks about the
history, present and future of his company - a vertically integrated
textile business, operating on an area of 165,922 square meters with a
total work force of 11,000 people.
Mr. Khaliq Uddin (GM Artistic
Milliners), Mr. Luqman
Mooraj, Abrar Mooraj (Nazer)
Mr. Yaqoob Ahmed (Chairman
Artistic Milliners) and Abbas
Mooraj (Nazer) standing in
front of Brückner 10 chamber
“Power frame Stenter” with
Split Flow Technology.30

2. 31
Interview
Please tell us how feel about the business
opportunities in Pakistan?
I believe in my country Pakistan and that it is indeed the
land of opportunities for its people, but if you look at the denim
business, our Western customers, the Europeans or the
Americans buy their textiles mainly from Pakistan. Everybody,
you see, from the retailers, wholesalers, fashion houses in the
world are much more price conscious in this unstable global
economy. That is why only the best companies, who offer better
price with quality products will survive and prosper in the long
run.
Secondly, this concept of buyers and sellers is now changing
into that of trading partners and therefore the experts from
Brückner understand our needs and offer solutions rather than
just machines. The vital link in this partnership is Abbas Mooraj,
who is an institution in our industry and despite our tough
negotiations; I feel Nazer will continue to be our technology
partner for future.
Last, but not the least, I would like to say that we are hands
on people, what makes me happy is the quality of life, holidays
with family and peace of mind. I play golf, take holidays once a
year and enjoy the company of my grandchildren. I keep a
positive outlook and tell my sons that Pakistan is a viable
country for textiles and that can be seen as investments keep
growing in textiles, despite all odds. If business is fun, you are
never old, although I am 63
years old, I enjoy work and
at the same time find time
for my friends and family
and recreation.
Denim cannot be sold like
a commodity fabrics, what
is your opinion about this
business sector and its
prospects in Pakistan?
As you may already
know Denim fabric and
garment manufacturers
worldwide, especially in USA
and Europe are closing down
during last five years. The
manufacturers in Italy and Turkey,
where the cost of production is very high and therefore not
competitive. The denim made in India, China and Bangladesh has
its own set of issues. India has huge urban population to meet
domestic demand of denim.
China has been moving to other high value exports and
Bangladesh can only do commodity fabrics. “Regarding future,
with our company history and legacy, we look towards the
future with great hope,”Yaqoob Ahmed says, “My two sons
Murtaza and Omer are equally passionate about doing business.
I think, the most important thing that we have been able to
achieve is a good reputation both in Pakistan and abroad. This
has been incredible and my sons are the future of this company.
Continuity is important and the way my sons are thinking is an
achievement and a credit to our Group.
“The legacy continues,” Yaqoob Ahmad says, “as I can tell
you from my personal experience that one should not suppress
our kids, if you do that they will not be able to think on their
own. One should always give them free hand to make
decisions, and of course there are losses, as not everything
happens 100% as per planned, but there are successes in the
long run. These mistakes and eventual success boosts their
confidence. The most important aspect is to be available for
advice, and yet give them a free hand to bring fresh ideas into
business. My father gave us a freedom and today all my
brothers have excelled in this business.”
Regina Brückner comments on innovative and eco-friendly
Brückner machines
“We at Brückner since the very beginning feel that research and development of our
machines is focussed on energy efficiency, longevity and quality, which ranks as first priority”,
says Regina Brückner, owner of the german machine manufacturing company Brückner.
“Customers like Artistic Milliners think in the same way as we do and therefore, they do not
strive for short-term profit maximization. When buying such a long-life but also versatile
machine as ours, you don’t have to consider the investment sum only, but also the life-cycle-
costs. The annual maintenance costs like energy costs, technical service costs etc. are below the
average. Furthermore, our productivity is much higher as compared with other machines. With
innovative and eco-friendly Brückner machines our customers can save energy, increase their
benefits and do a good action for the environment. At the same time exact reproducibility and
innovative process technology ensure end products of highest quality for our customers.
Finally, the investment in a Brückner machine is a benefit on the long run.”
Mr. Khaliq Uddin (GM Artistic Milliners) Mr. Yaqoob
Ahmed (Chairman Artistic Milliners) with Mr. Abbas
Mooraj, Abrar Mooraj and Luqman Mooraj (Nazer)
standing in front of Brückner High Efficiency Stenter
“Power Frame” with reinforced rails for heavy
fabric. This latest design gives high production with
low energy consumption.

3. 32
Omar Ahmed joined his family
business in 2006. In an exclusive
interview with Pakistan Textile
Journal, he speaks about the new
developments at Artistic
Milliners.
Technology allows you to be creative
and to provide your customers with a
wide range of products and the services,
please tell us something about the spin-
ning, weaving, finishing and garment
divisions of the Artistic Group?
Artistic Milliners spinning division
established in 2002, with a daily capacity
of 100,000 pounds. It is equipped with
state of the art machinery from Germany
and Switzerland. The emphasis is to
specialize in producing high quality yarn
(ring spun, open end, core spun Lycra
and multi count and multi twist yarns) to
assure the production of premium denim
fabrics. We have two 24 Rope dye
ranges, capable of producing deep shades
of Indigo and Loop dye range to produce
novelty shades.
Today, we have 300 looms producing
a range of denim fabrics from 5 to 15 oz
with a production capacity is 4 million
meters of fabric per month. It is
important to note that our mills have
online and offline quality systems.
Our experience and extensive
knowledge enables our customer to
source high fashion goods and maintain
strict quality controls in order to ensure
consistency during this critical production
process.
What kind of fabrics and applications do
you run Brückner stenter and what was
the motivation behind Brückner
machinery?
We run mostly stretch fabrics.
Brückner has made a number of
innovations in heat setting machines, and
we were looking for an innovative
stenter, with flexible and efficient
technology to meet our production
demands and parameters.
As you know innovative technology
allows the weavers and finishers certain
creativity and denim is a business, where
our customers require products which are
bit different and fashionable than others.
What is your company philosophy and
future strategy?
Our mission is to sustain our
reputation as one of the top denim mills
in the world by striving for excellence in
each function of our business. Artistic
Milliners has the ability to cater to specific
client needs with package deals such as
product development at source, design
support, shorter lead times, on-time
deliveries and warehousing facilities. Our
latest undertaking is the new state of the
art denim mill AM-5 which will take our
production capacity to 5 million meters.
In addition to mill expansion we are
also expanding our garment production.
Our new factory which is to commence in
March 2013 will be one of the most eco-
friendly garment factories in Asia and will
take our annual production to 20 million
garments.
Omar Ahmad says, “we have the best machines from European
suppliers, ranging from ring and open end spinning machines, high
speed weaving machines and highly sophisticated wet and dry
finishing facilities and very efficient and organized garments
cutting and stitching departments. The latest technology and years
of experience in Denim industry drives our growth.”