These Indian sneaker brands are bringing serious signature style, comfort, and desi pride to the sneaker game
Bengaluru: Sneakers have journeyed far from their athletic roots to become an accoutrement of self expression. Though the name stems from the word ‘sneak’—a nod to the silent tread of rubber soles—they have grown into one of the loudest parts of a wardrobe, especially for the daring youth.
India is lacing up strong in the sneaker game—welcoming global giants while more importantly, crafting its own homegrown labels tailored for true-blue sneakerheads.
The sneaker market in India is gaining serious traction, projected to rise from $3.8 billion in FY24 to a hefty $5.9 billion by FY32, growing at a steady CAGR of 5.45%, according to reports.
Gen-Z and millennials are increasingly stepping away from global staples like Adidas and Puma, gravitating instead toward Indian sneaker brands like Comet and Gully Labs for their bold, India-centric designs and strong commitment to sustainability.
Here’s a look at eight emerging made-in-India sneaker brands, you will want to keep an eye on, which are bringing serious style, comfort, and desi pride to the sneaker scene…
- Comet
Comet was founded in July 2023 by Utkarsh Gupta and Dishant Daryani, observing a gap in the Indian market for sneakers that balanced performance, comfort, and contemporary style. The D2C brand sells products for both men and women primarily through its website.
Comet’s product line includes four primary silhouettes: Highs, Lows, Aeons, and Slides. The brand embraces ‘drop culture’, releasing limited-edition sneakers like the Mango, Juno, and Ludo collections.
Comet now serves over 12k customers each month and has built a strong sneaker community of nearly 2 lakh followers on Instagram, according to media reports. Positioning itself against global sneaker giants, the brand claims to offer shoes with the look and feel of a Rs 10,000 product, but at an accessible price point of around Rs 4,000.
Within one year of its launch, the Bengaluru-based brand has raised over $6.5 million in funding from investors like Elevation Capital and Nexus Venture Partners.
Marking its entry into physical retail, Comet unveiled its first flagship store in Bengaluru and is gearing up to open more outlets in Delhi and Mumbai by the end of the year.
- Campus Athleisure
Campus, now known as Campus Activewear was founded by Hari Krishna Agarwal in 2006, as a lifestyle-oriented sports and athleisure footwear brand. Over time, it has grown to become the largest brand in its category within India. Initially operating as an offline-first company, Campus made its foray into the e-commerce space in 2018.
As of FY 2024, Campus Activewear is available through over 23,000 retail touchpoints and is supported by a network of 350 distributors. It operates across more than 650 cities in all 28 Indian states. The company also manages over 250 EBOs and is present in approximately 1,300 large format stores.
On the manufacturing front, Campus runs five state-of-the-art facilities with a combined annual assembly capacity of 35.8 million pairs of shoes. Each year, the company sells over 22 million pairs, offering more than 3,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) for men, women, and children.
In line with its design-forward approach, Campus introduces more than 300 new styles annually, maintaining a fresh and relevant product lineup.
In 2023, Campus Activewear marked a significant milestone by entering international markets, beginning with Indonesia and Malaysia. The company recorded a revenue of Rs 14,482.9 crore in FY 2024 — a slight decrease from Rs 14,842.5 crore in the previous fiscal year, despite the challenges posed by a global economic slowdown.
- Gully Labs
Gully Labs was co-founded in 2023 by former corporate professionals Animesh Mishra and Arjun Singh, with the vision of building a sneaker brand that authentically reflects Indian culture and identity.
Rooted in a commitment to Indian craftsmanship, the brand designs and manufactures its products entirely in India, utilising indigenous materials such as natural rubber and bamboo. Positioned in the premium segment, Gully Labs sneakers are priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 16,000.
Key design elements include branding embroidered in Devanagari script, along with standout models like the Saaj Orange, which features Rangoli-inspired motifs and the Gully Number 001 – Naadu, adorned with an embroidered depiction of Kerala’s traditional boat — paying tribute to Indian festivals such as Diwali and Onam.
In just over a year since its launch, the brand has experienced rapid growth, reporting a 30% month-over-month increase in revenue. It now serves customers across four international markets, fulfilling 95% of its order volume through its own website — and doing so profitably, according to media reports.
- Neeman’s
Neeman’s, a Hyderabad-based sustainable footwear brand, was founded in 2016 by Taran Chhabra and Amar Preet.
Initially conceptualized in America, Neeman’s holds the distinction of being India’s first footwear brand to incorporate natural, renewable, and sustainable materials—such as merino wool, recycled PET bottles, organic cotton, bamboo, wood, fruit pulp, and tyres—into its production processes.
Starting with sneakers, the brand’s portfolio has grown to include a wide range of footwear styles including slip-ons, loafers, flip-flops, sandals, and slides.
Neeman’s has established a presence with 18 EBOs across more than six Indian states. It also retails through its own D2C platform, e-commerce marketplaces, and large-format stores such as Shoppers Stop and Lifestyle. On the global front, the brand has extended its reach with availability on platforms like Amazon UAE and 6th Street UAE.
In terms of funding, Neeman’s secured $1 million in seed funding from Anicut Capital in March 2020, followed by a $2.7 million Series A round in 2021 and a $5.15 million Series B round in 2022, both led by Sixth Sense Ventures. The capital has been directed towards enhancing product innovation, expanding into global markets, and advancing research in eco-friendly materials.
- Anaar
Luxury sneaker brand Anaar was established by Tanushri Biyani in 2024. The sustainable brand specialises in handcrafted bridal sneakers that provide essential support and cushioning for all-day comfort while enhancing bridal attire.
Anaar presents a diverse range of footwear styles, spanning wedge sneakers, pumps, and boots—is crafted in easy-to-wear slip-on formats, offering a modern alternative to the traditional lace-up shoes.
In 2024, the brand garnered international attention, notably becoming the first Indian footwear label to showcase at New York Fashion Week.
On the retail front, Anaar has launched its first pop-up kiosk at DLF Ambience Mall in Delhi and is currently available across more than eight e-commerce platforms and over 20 boutique retail outlets.
With plans underway to roll out additional pop-up experiences in key metros including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, the brand is actively executing its omnichannel expansion strategy to strengthen both its digital and physical presence in the Indian market.
- Zeesh
Luxury leather sneaker brand Zeesh was founded in 2020 by Zeeshan Avoor, with Umar Farook later joining as co-founder. Leveraging a rich family heritage spanning over 30 years in leather footwear manufacturing, Avoor launched Zeesh to cater to the evolving preferences of young Indian consumers.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, Zeesh began its retail journey with a pop-up kiosk at Orion Mall before establishing a presence at Phoenix Marketcity in the city.
The brand rolled out a digital customisation feature, enabling customers to personalise their sneakers with a variety of colour options, engravings, and design elements. Zeesh also engages a broad customer base through curated events and its loyalty initiative, ZSociety.
Looking forward, the company plans to scale its digital footprint across India and expand to global e-commerce platforms. Zeesh is also gearing up to launch exclusive experience centers and flagship stores in major cities, aiming to achieve Rs 100 crore in revenue over the next five years.
- Bacca Bucci
Bacca Bucci, a New Delhi-based footwear and accessories brand, was founded in 2013 by Natwar Agarwal and Anuj Nevatia. It began as a modest venture with an initial investment of Rs 50,000, operating from a single PG room in Delhi, offering just two footwear designs.
Currently, the brand’s product portfolio encompasses a range of sneakers, boots, athleisure footwear, and formal shoes, catering to the fashion-conscious youth. The company has also expanded into accessories, including belts, wallets, and toiletry bags, further solidifying its position in the lifestyle segment.
In terms of distribution, Bacca Bucci has adopted a digital-first approach, with most of its sales occurring online. It also leverages e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra, as well as its own website and app.
In 2024, Bacca Bucci received a $2.5 million investment from Ananta Capital to accelerate its growth plans. The funding is being utilized to diversify its product offerings, strengthen its omnichannel strategy, and explore innovative materials and technologies.
The sneaker-first brand currently records daily sales of around 4,000 pairs and is gearing up to launch its first physical retail store. Additionally, Bacca Bucci has made its international debut by entering the Dubai market, according to media sources.
- 7-10
Mumbai-based D2C sneaker brand 7-10 was founded in 2021 by fashion entrepreneur Shibani Bhagat. Catering to both men and women, the brand was conceived to address the growing demand for Indian-designed sneakers that resonate with the global sneaker culture.
Its products are designed and manufactured in India, making them 100% homegrown. Apart from its own digital platform, its products are available across multi-brand stores in cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Pune, Tirupati, Indore, Dehradun and more.
A month ago, digital marketing startup Wubba Lubba Dub Dub (WLDD) acquired a majority stake in D2C sneaker brand 7-10, a month after it bought ScoopWhoop from The Good Glamm Group.
Looking ahead, 7-10 plans to expand its product offerings and strengthen its presence in both domestic and international markets.
