Meena Bindra, a Delhi homemaker, launched Biba with a ₹8,000 loan in 1988. Her unique designs and affordable pricing quickly gained popularity, leading to Biba becoming a leading ethnic wear brand with over 180 stores across India.
Biba Success Story: When we think of iconic names in Indian fashion, a few brands stand out immediately. One of them has a story rooted not in glitz, but in quiet determination. This is the story of Meena Bindra, a homemaker who transformed her life and went on to build a fashion empire. Born and raised in Delhi, Meena studied at Miranda House, Delhi University. She married young, at 20, and spent the next two decades raising her two sons, Sanjay and Siddharth, while supporting her husband, a naval officer. It wasn’t until she turned 40, with her children grown and more time to herself, that Meena decided to take a leap. What started as a personal pursuit soon grew into something much bigger, the beginning of a now-famous fashion brand.
Launching a Fashion Brand
In 1988, with no formal training in fashion design and no prior business experience, Meena Bindra began selling simple cotton suits from her home. She didn’t even have a bank account. With the support of her husband, she secured a small loan of ₹8,000, and that modest start marked the birth of Biba. At the time, readymade churidar-kurtas were still a new concept in India. Shopping for clothes wasn’t as convenient as it is today. But Meena’s fresh designs and affordable styles quickly resonated with women of all ages. Her creations stood out, and before long, she had become a household name.
Secrets to Success
A major breakthrough came when Benzer, a well-known fashion store in Mumbai, began stocking Meena Bindra’s designs. From there, Biba steadily grew, eventually becoming one of India's leading ethnic wear brands. In 2004, Biba opened its first exclusive store in a Mumbai mall, a significant milestone. By 2012, the brand had crossed ₹300 crore in revenue, doubling that figure by 2020 to ₹600 crore. Today, Biba has a presence in over 180 standalone stores across 76 cities, and its clothing is also available in 275 multi-brand outlets. According to reports, its annual revenue now stands at approximately ₹700 crore. Meena credits her success to a simple yet powerful formula: high quality, fair pricing, and timely delivery.
Related Articles
Biba's Global Success
Biba has also made its mark in Bollywood. In 2004, it began designing clothes for films like 'Na Tum Jaano Na Hum', 'Hulchul', and 'Baghban', further boosting its brand recognition. In 2015, Biba received the Best Women's Ethnic Wear Brand award, and Meena was honoured with the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) Apex Lifetime Achievement Award. Meena remains actively involved in Biba's designs, personally inspecting each piece for quality and aesthetics. Biba's online store, biba.in, reaches customers nationwide. Meena Bindra's story exemplifies how hard work, passion, and courage can turn any dream into reality. She stands as an inspiration for women aspiring to achieve great things.
