Libas launches review after harassment claims surface publicly on LinkedIn

Indian ethnic and fusion wear brand Libas has launched an internal review after allegations of workplace harassment by a former employee surfaced publicly on LinkedIn, putting the company under scrutiny over its workplace culture.

The allegations were raised by Sahifa Farooqi, a former fashion designer at Libas, who described what she called a hostile and intimidating work environment that led to her resignation. Farooqi joined the company in 2025 and shared her account in a LinkedIn post that quickly gained attention.

In her post, Farooqi alleged that the conduct stemmed from a senior team head, Shivangi Jaiswal, and claimed that members of the design team were routinely asked to replicate designs from other brands, with little scope for original work. She further alleged that verbal abuse was frequent and that threats of physical harm were made, creating what she described as an atmosphere of fear.

“I recently left my position as a fashion designer at Libas due to what I experienced as unacceptable workplace conditions,” Farooqi wrote, adding that abusive language and intimidation were commonplace within the team.

Farooqi told Storyboard18 that employees had raised concerns with the human resources department in the past but said no corrective action followed. She said her decision to speak publicly was intended to raise awareness, while also noting that Libas ensured timely salary payments and provided transport facilities for staff.

Following the LinkedIn post, other former employees have come forward with similar claims, most of them from the design team. One former employee, Ritika Chauhan, said she experienced unprofessional conduct within days of joining the company and left shortly afterwards. Another former staff member, who requested anonymity, said 20 to 30 employees resigned over a six-month period.

In a statement to Storyboard18, Libas’s head of human resources said the company had initiated an internal review. “The matter has been brought to our attention through the appropriate internal channels. We are listening carefully, and we have initiated an internal review to understand the matter in the right context and take appropriate steps,” the company said.

Libas added that it remained committed to fostering a workplace grounded in dignity, respect and psychological safety, while cautioning against drawing conclusions in a public forum while the review is ongoing.

The allegations come at a challenging time for the company financially. According to data from Tracxn cited by Storyboard18, Libas’s net loss widened in the 2025 financial year to ₹8.52 lakh, from ₹6.34 lakh a year earlier, even as EBITDA losses narrowed year-on-year.

As Indian consumer brands face growing scrutiny over governance and workplace practices, how Libas handles the internal review — and whether it leads to concrete action — will be closely watched by employees, industry peers and investors alike.