Ajay Singh, Founder and Managing Director of Shaivam Apparels Pvt. Ltd., stands at the forefront of India’s leather garment and goods export industry. With over 25 years of experience, Ajay Singh has built a legacy of innovation, ethical production, and strategic foresight, positioning his company among the leading exporters in the country. His journey began in 1989, when he worked under a pioneering female entrepreneur in the export sector.
Inspired by her success, he realized that he too could build something remarkable. He went on to gain experience at several of the biggest export houses in India before founding Shaivam Apparels in 1999, headquartered in Chennai.
Since its inception, the company has grown steadily, specializing in manufacturing and exporting premium leather garments and accessories to key global markets such as Italy, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Australia, the UK, the U.S., and Canada. Under Ajay Singh’s leadership, the company has prioritized sustainability, quality, and customer-centric innovation, enabling it to maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry.
As global markets increasingly demand ethical and environmentally responsible sourcing, Shaivam Apparels has led the transition from chrome-based to vegetable tanning processes, reducing water contamination and promoting eco-friendly practices without compromising product quality.
Ajay Singh’s management philosophy emphasizes structured teamwork, long-term vision, and empowerment across all levels of the organization. He leads by example, maintaining direct communication with supervisors, production teams, and international clients through weekly Zoom meetings and internal reviews. These sessions focus on aligning production goals across departments, including cutting, stitching, and finishing, while also reinforcing how quality directly influences pricing and customer satisfaction.
A hallmark of his leadership is a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. The company maintains an active R&D division, frequently collaborating with European chemical labs to develop new leather textures and finishes. Employees
are incentivized to experiment and are rewarded when their innovations lead to new business. This environment of experimentation has helped the company stay ahead of fashion cycles and technological shifts in the leather manufacturing domain.
Ajay Singh manages to balance daily operations with long-term strategy, ensuring that new collections are developed two seasons in advance. His approach integrates seasoned professionals with young talent, ensuring both stability and adaptability in a competitive global market. Succession planning is a vital part of his strategy, and his son, Rishikesh Singh, has now joined the company to help take the brand into its next phase of expansion.
Shaivam Apparels is also known for its strong focus on compliance and employee welfare. As a BSCI A-rated company, it adheres to global standards in fair labor practices and workplace safety. More than 30 percent of the workforce comprises women holding critical roles across departments, showcasing Ajay Singh’s commitment to gender inclusivity and equitable growth. Regular third-party audits validate the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability and responsible labor management.
Ajay Singh’s operational model is grounded in three principles, namely commitment, timely delivery, and competitive pricing. These values are reflected in the company's practice of working with pre-approved samples to set clear expectations with clients, enabling trust and consistency in delivery. Over time, these practices have helped build lasting relationships with international buyers, who recognize the brand for its craftsmanship, reliability, and responsiveness.
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Navigating the highly competitive Southeast Asian export market requires resilience, and Ajay Singh has demonstrated that time and again. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a major German client abruptly halted payments on a shipment worth $200,000. Thanks to diversified clientele and financial prudence, the business stayed afloat. Post-pandemic, Ajay Singh personally visited the client’s warehouse to renegotiate credit terms and pricing, turning a crisis into a long-term partnership.
Another defining moment occurred when an entire workforce at one production unit left without notice while he was traveling abroad. Instead of concealing the issue from buyers, Ajay Singh immediately informed clients of potential delays and acted quickly to hire new laborers on a task-based model. Production resumed with minimal disruption, showcasing his belief in transparency and swift problem-solving.
Ajay Singh’s deep understanding of raw materials, particularly leather and its treatment processes, gives him a unique advantage in cost control and product development. Leather accounts for nearly 70 percent of production costs, and his expertise ensures that every order is both economically viable and of superior quality. He also emphasizes the importance of market forecasting and trend analysis, continuously updating his collections based on evolving consumer preferences.
Over three decades, Ajay Singh has cultivated a business where quality, integrity, and sustainability drive global success
Charting the Path Ahead
To ensure sustained growth, Ajay Singh is expanding Shaivam Apparels’ production capacity while gradually transitioning from wholesale exports to strategic partnerships with established local and international brands. He regularly attends global trade fairs to stay updated on new technologies and market developments. These efforts not only keep his company competitive but also help maintain its relevance across different consumer demographics and geographies.
Looking ahead, Ajay Singh has set an ambitious target of reaching 100 crore in revenue, a milestone that reflects not just commercial aspiration but a larger mission to establish India as a powerhouse in global leather manufacturing. He believes in giving back through entrepreneurship, job creation, and mentorship. His mantra is simple, “Innovation is key in the leather export industry. We must integrate advanced global technology, reduce manual processes while upskilling our people, and operate with honesty, with clients, workers, and ourselves. In doing so, we don’t just build a business, we build an economy”.
An Economics graduate with specialized training in Garment Designing from NIFT Delhi and Leather Technology from CLRI, Ajay Singh brings both academic grounding and industry acumen to his role. Through vision, grit, and unwavering dedication, he has positioned Shaivam Apparels as a global standard-bearer in leather garment exports, leading by example and inspiring the next generation to build with purpose and integrity.
Ajay Singh, Founder & Managing Director, Shaivam Apparels
Ajay Singh is the Founder and Managing Director of Shaivam Apparels, a Chennai-based leather garment export house. With over 35 years in the leather industry and 25 years of leading his own business, he has built a global presence across Europe, North America, and Australia. An alumnus of NIFT Delhi and CLRI, Ajay champions sustainability, innovation, and ethical manufacturing, making Shaivam Apparels a trusted name in international leather exports.
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