Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Bagging Design with functionality Here's the story behind the homegrown 100% PeTA approved vegan lifestyle brand

By Punita Sabharwal

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Entrepreneur india
Disha Singh, Founder & CEO, Zouk

Post IIMA, when Disha Singh wanted to startup, she knew she wanted to do something in the lifestyle and fashion space. In fact, she spent some time working with a boutique fashion house and working with a designer for Lakme Fashion Week, before starting Zouk.

The idea of Zouk was born when Disha visited Kutch for an IIMA course. She saw that her friends loved the local handicraft items but did not buy any, given they were not functional. That's when she studied multiple markets in the lifestyle and fashion space. "I saw a gap for a brand that is inspired from our homeland but is modern and world-class. Thus, my IIMA batchmate, husband Pradeep and I set out on the mission of bringing to customers stylish and functional products with an essence of India," shares Disha.

After an initial few lakhs of sales, distribution can make or break the growth of your business. If you want to create a large brand, you have to go to where the customer is and not say that you will wait for them to come to you when the time is right. Based on its first year of offline experience while selling in 50+ exhibitions, Zouk kickstarted its journey online. Today, Zouk is an online-only brand at the moment selling through its own website as well as platforms like Amazon, Myntra and other marketplaces. The brand also keeps doing a few bespoke orders for its customers abroad. The 100% PeTA approved vegan lifestyle brand, in July this year, raised INR 11.75 crore / USD 1.5 million in pre-series A led by Stellaris Venture Partners, Titan Capital and the founders of Mamaearth, Wow Skin Sciences and Beardo. The 15 people team has so far served 60,000 customers and has grown 4x in 2021.

In her Zouk journey, the part Disha is most proud of is that as a woman, she has been able to upskill and support over 200 expert artisans, who make Zouk's Proudly Indian products. As Disha concludes, "To scale a business, you need some of your products to do really well. So, your ability to create lots of new products doesn't help. What helps scale up is to make a few great products that your customers want."

Punita Sabharwal

Entrepreneur Staff

Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

Side Hustle

At 16, She Started a Side Hustle While 'Stuck at Home.' Now It's on Track to Earn Over $3.1 Million This Year.

Evangelina Petrakis, 21, was in high school when she posted on social media for fun — then realized a business opportunity.

Business News

Remote Work Enthusiast Kevin O'Leary Does TV Appearance Wearing Suit Jacket, Tie and Pajama Bottoms

"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary looks all business—until you see the wide view.

Health & Wellness

I'm a CEO, Founder and Father of 2 — Here Are 3 Practices That Help Me Maintain My Sanity.

This is a combination of active practices that I've put together over a decade of my intense entrepreneurial journey.

Growing a Business

Why 'Founder Mode' is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Solution to Leadership

The founder-driven approach can boost a business's growth, but transitioning from "founder mode" to a balanced leadership style is essential for sustained success and scaling.

Growing a Business

PR vs. Marketing — Which One Delivers Better ROI for Your Business?

PR builds trust and credibility over time, while marketing drives short-term sales through targeted campaigns, making both essential for business success, depending on goals and budget.

Business News

San Francisco's Train System Is Still Run on Floppy Disks. It May Finally Get an Upgrade.

Officials approve a $212 million plan to replace its wildly outdated train control system.