StartUps

Snatch a Snitch

A 21st-century fashion station for the millennial generation, ‘Made in India, For the World’, Snitch is a men’s apparel startup brand growing in leaps and bounds. Encapsulating inspirations from around the globe, the company designs styles in response to the latest trends. Bindu Gopal Rao in conversation with the founder talks about how the brand started and more.

The Story behind Snitch

Siddharth R Dungarwal, the founder of Snitch explains why he chose the name, “We have always known the word ‘Snitch’ in a negative light. So, we took it and turned it into something cool and quirky. That was the idea behind our name. Who knew that our customers would grow to use the word as a verb too? So, now we Snitch on trends.” Dungarwal introduced Snitch as a B2B company in 2018 with a vision to meet the latest fashion demand for men daily. Later in 2019, the company moved to the D2C model and launched its website with just 30-35 products. Envisioned as a fast fashion brand in India, Snitch now delivers world-class trends, designs and fashion daily.

We started as a small startup, but our dreams have always been to acquire a big name in the industry.

Snitch is not just a product-selling brand, instead, they narrate the story of fast fashion. “Most apparel brands make collections as per seasons. To break the norm of a limited collection, we design and produce fashion daily. Now the company has built a robust system from designing a product to making it available for sale in less than 20-25 days,” says Dungarwal.

Tapping into trends and designing our collections based on the latest fashion choices is quite a challenge.

The strategy is paying off as they registered a 100 per cent growth in FY 2021 – 22. “I believe that if your only competition is yourself, then nothing can stop you. Our ability to adapt to the changing environment has led to this kind of growth. We started as a small startup, but our dreams have always been to acquire a big name in the industry,” says Dungarwal. With consistency as the key, the team plans everything and never misses out on adapting to the latest technology. Having employed proactive personnel, the team has developed an online community and kept producing quality clothing for their customers.

Most apparel brands make collections as per seasons. To break the norm of a limited collection, we design and produce fashion daily.

Contemporary Cues

In the age of Tinder and Instagram, everyone wants to look trendy, and men are generally left behind. Catering to such fashion needs specifically for men, Snitch was started to fulfil the fashion and styling needs of men. “Meanwhile, running the race of limited collections, the majority of fashion brands tend to forget that the end customers seek the latest styles and trends at affordability. Keeping such exotic fashion choices and price factors in mind, Snitch is a limitless and experimental fashion brand that offers a quirky and outlandish range of everyday staples like formals, party wear, leisure wear, and much more that gives the brand a runaway success in India in the men’s apparel category,” says Dungarwal.

The organization has a clear focus on customer satisfaction and believes that the kind of service they receive from the brand when things go wrong is important. Snitch also ensures that men must not compromise in style choices by adopting a thoughtful approach to advocate sustainable fashion. A whole new landscape of recycled and upcycled fabrics has enabled Snitch to create fashion pieces for our customer base that have a minimum impact on the environment. “With end-to-end technology that helps in the manufacturing process, we use tools that help us forecast trends that are later converted into the final design. We use ERP tools to help in the overall production/ manufacturing process,” says Dungarwal.

Future Plans

Fashion is a nonstop industry, and the team is always on their toes to ensure they offer the latest fashion that is liked by their target audience. This, however, also has its own challenges. “Tapping into trends and designing our collections based on the latest fashion choices is quite a challenge. We also face many technical challenges on the front be it delivery related, production centric or return/ sizing issues faced by customers that we are trying to nullify,” says Dungarwal. Since Fashion is meant for every body type, Snitch Plus is a collection provisioning plus sizes (2XL – 5XL) offering an unconventional style statement for men of all sizes. It brings out the best of personalities through the transformative power of fashion. The brand recently introduced Snitch Luxe, personifying sartorial elegance inspired by the rich standard of Egyptian Cotton as the world’s finest, to deliver craftsmanship in classic and luxury forms.

Looking ahead, Snitch aims to cross the turnover of 350-400 crores in the next 3-4 years. The company wishes to expand into the women’s apparel segment as well. Snitch is planning to open 6 to 8 digital experience stores across India in the next six months for an offline – digital experience. Their stores (500-800 square feet) will open soon in Delhi-NCR, Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra. So let’s say cheers to men’s fashion, shall we?

October 30, 2022

House of Creativity: Sinha Brothers Redefine India’s Art Scene with a Legacy-Fuelled Vision

In a world where creativity often competes with commerce, LUV and KUSSH SINHA are merging both purpose and passion. Drawing from their rich cinematic heritage and a lifelong connection to the arts, the Sinha twins have launched The House of Creativity (HOC) a platform dedicated to showcasing and supporting contemporary Indian artists. Their goal is to democratize access to visual art, giving emerging talents a space to thrive while also expanding the reach of Indian artistry on a global stage. In conversation with SINDURI VUPPALA, the duo shares how their entrepreneurial journey is not just about art, but about creating a movement that celebrates originality, honours legacy, and nurtures the future of India’s creative community. 1. Can you take us back to when your relationship with visual art truly began? Luv: My relationship with visual art began at a very young age. I was deeply influenced by Hindi cinema the films my father acted in, those of Mr. Bachchan, and other legends. As I grew older, Japanese animation, video games, and comic books also left a huge impression on me. Each artist, every inker, has their own style those differences fascinated me. Film too, being a moving image, played a huge role. Pause it, and it becomes a photograph. That connection influenced me tremendously. 2. What led to the birth of the House of Creativity? Was there a defining moment or conversation? Luv: It started with conversations at home during the lockdown. I kept thinking about the number of immensely talented artists who just don’t have a platform. Art can be an exclusive world, but coming from the film industry, I felt we could help expand its reach. The idea of starting digital-first made sense due to restrictions, but our long-term vision is definitely to open physical galleries and make

StartUps

Why Piyush Goyal’s Note Strikes a Chord with Many

In a fast-paced economy where entrepreneurship is often glamorized and unicorn status is considered the ultimate goal, Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent cautionary note to start-ups has sparked conversation across boardrooms, social media feeds, and co-working spaces alike. At a time when headlines celebrate billion-dollar valuations and multi-million funding rounds, Goyal’s reminder to prioritize sustainability over vanity metrics comes as both a wake-up call and a much-needed dose of realism. What Did Piyush Goyal Say? While addressing a forum of young entrepreneurs and start-up founders, the Commerce and Industry Minister highlighted the growing trend of start-ups focusing more on valuation than value creation. He advised founders to stay grounded, reminding them that real impact lies in solving problems, building sustainable models, and creating employment — not just in raising capital or reaching the next funding milestone. Why It Resonates 1. The Valuation Bubble India has witnessed a boom in the start-up ecosystem over the last decade, becoming the third-largest start-up hub in the world. However, this rapid rise has also led to the emergence of overvalued unicorns, many of which struggle to generate profits or even break even. Goyal’s words hit home because several start-ups that once shone brightly have now either shut down or drastically downsized. 2. Funding Winter & Layoffs In the past year, a noticeable funding winter has taken a toll on many start-ups. With VC purse strings tightening, companies have been forced to lay off thousands of employees, scale back operations, and rethink their business models. Goyal’s comment serves as a timely reminder that blind growth can be dangerous without a stable foundation. 3. Founders Facing Burnout The hustle culture in start-up circles often glorifies 20-hour workdays and constant “grind” mentality. However, a growing number of founders are speaking out about mental health challenges, anxiety, and burnout. Goyal’s emphasis on sustainable growth also indirectly supports a healthier entrepreneurial mindset — one that doesn’t chase

StartUps

Water Warriors

The harsh summer of 2024 is a stark reminder that there is an urgent need to conserve the elixir of life: water. So, what is causing the water crisis, and how does one mitigate its impact? Climate change, high contamination of water, over-exploitation of groundwater, deforestation, reduced rainfall, and increased agricultural demand are some of the main reasons for water shortage. However, while the water situation seems stark, there is a silver lining on the cloud as many water-saving ventures seek to make a difference. Bindu Gopal Rao highlights several of these impactful initiatives. Water Warriors Bala Vikasa, Telangana Bala Vikasa is an NGO pioneering community-driven sustainable development activities in seven states, impacting about eight million people. A significant initiative they have is to provide access to safe drinking water at an affordable price of Rs 3-5 per 20 litres to rural communities suffering from high fluoride content in the available groundwater. Most small and marginal farmers rely heavily on natural freshwater resources for irrigation. However, groundwater depletion and low rainfall in urban and suburban areas have led to severe water scarcity, pushing farmers into a vicious cycle of debt due to reduced crop quality and yield. “In response to the struggles of farmers in rural Telangana, Bala Vikasa, founded by André Gingras (90) and Bala T. Singareddy (83), launched a pioneering farm pond construction program in 2015. This initiative, supported by CSR partners, aims to help farmers conserve rainwater, meet their irrigation needs, and replenish groundwater,” says Shoury Reddy Singareddy, Executive Director, Bala Vikasa. The program began in Ontimamidipally village, Warangal District, in 2015. In 2019, Bala Vikasa extended support to farmers in the suburbs of Hyderabad, following requests from the farmers of Upplingapur village, Medchal. This expansion underscores the program’s success and vital role in promoting sustainable agricultural

StartUps

The Timeless Allure of Crystals: Do they help?

Crystals have captivated humanity for millennia, their ethereal beauty and purported mystical properties drawing people from all walks of life. These natural treasures, long admired for their beauty, are experiencing a global resurgence. Let’s explore the reasons behind this trend and dive deep into the world of crystals, examining their allure and purported properties through the eyes of Akshay Gund, a passionate crystal collector in India and founder of Kaivalya—House of Crystals. Mehak Walia, in conversation with Akshay Gund, the founder of Kaivalya – House of Crystals and the passionate crystal collector, about the essence and reason crystals are trending. Crystals Journey Discovering a New Path Akshay Gund hails from Pune, where his academic journey began with a fascination for animals, leading him to study zoology at Wadia College. This interest in the natural world evolved into a more profound curiosity about digital mapping, which he pursued at the Symbiosis Institute through a postgraduate degree in Geo-Informatics. However, his true calling emerged in a rather unexpected domain—crystals. “Initially, I started making videos on YouTube, educating people about crystals and minerals and showing them how to find these beauties in nature,” Akshay shares. The positive response and the feedback he received highlighted a disturbing trend in the Indian crystal market: exorbitant prices and counterfeit products. This realization sparked the creation of Kaivalya – House of Crystals in 2022, a venture aimed at providing genuine, affordable crystals while educating the public about their true nature. The Essence of Crystals As Akshay explains, crystals are semi-precious rocks formed over millions of years through crystallization. This natural phenomenon results in unique structures and formations, much like diamonds. Crystals’ allure lies in their beauty, which is why they are trending today. From holistic health and alternative medicine to spiritual practices and aesthetics, crystals have found