"Mr Mukherjee, you cannot die," he recalls words from a girl
he met at the New Delhi airport a few years ago. Taken aback, he asked why. Her
response? “You have so much idealism in your business. What will happen to us?”
It is this legacy that Sabyasachi hopes to take forward with the brand
that he established 25 years ago, something that nudged him to sell 51% of the
company's stake to the Aditya Birla Group in 2021. For him, this was never about
relinquishing control. It was about securing the legacy of a brand he had
nurtured from a small Kolkata boutique into one of India’s most influential
fashion houses.
"Often, personal hubris makes entrepreneurs hold on too
long," he reflects. "Then they grow old, and the brand dies with
them. I was very clear—Sabya has to live on."
“I told Mr Birla, this company does not belong to me, it does not
belong to you. It belongs to the country at large, and we have to do it right,”
he tells CNBC-TV18, realising that his brand represents more than just
fashion—it symbolises possibility.
Unlike many entrepreneurs who hold onto their creations until they
fade, Sabyasachi believes in transition. “When personal hubris takes over, you
keep the baby just for yourself, you grow old, and the brand dies with you.
That was never an option for me,” he says.
Sabyasachi is pragmatic about his role in the brand’s future. He has no
biological children, but even if he did, he insists, “I would not give it to
them if they were not qualified.” Instead, his mission now is to spend the next
20 years transitioning Sabyasachi into a “corporate Sabya” that will thrive
long after he is gone.
At 51, Mukherjee is reflective yet forward-looking. "This brand
does not belong to me. It does not belong to Mr Birla. It belongs to the
country at large," he says. "If a middle-class boy from Kolkata could
break the glass ceiling, so can others."
As he charts the next 25 years, his focus remains the same: to elevate
Indian craftsmanship on a global stage. "It’s time we take back what was
always ours," he says. "India is going to the top—it’s just a matter
of time."
He mentioned why Deepika was his only Bollywood muse for this milestone
show. “I have never really used Bollywood on my runway. Deepika was the only
exception,” he admitted, adding that this would likely be the first and last
time he made such an exception.
Actress Deepika Padukone expressed her love and admiration for
Sabyasachi by reposting his story on Instagram and thanking him for his kind
words and generosity.
The gripping conversation had the audience spellbound as it delved into
the intersection of feminism, creativity, and identity where Sabyasachi said,
“Gender inequality begins with perception. If we raise boys to see women as
equals rather than competitors, true gender parity will follow. I grew up
surrounded by strong women, and for me, equality was never in question—it was
simply the way things were meant to be.”
Under the theme #PathToPeak, the third edition of Future.Female.Forward takes a decisive step in the journey toward greater representation, leadership, and opportunities for women in the workplace. More than just conversations, this year’s summit brings together influential voices and industry leaders to champion real progress and collective action.
