AKINNA, a high-end Indian fashion brand specializing in leather handbags, just got its first investment from Zeropearl VC.
This pre-seed/seed round is a big step for luxury D2C brands in India, who are starting to gain traction. AKINNA plans to use the money to increase production by partnering with more artisans, hire key people, and build its brand to boost its global image.
Founded in 2023 by Annika Saraf and Sanchit Goyal, AKINNA aims to change how people see Indian luxury. Even though India has a long history of contributing to global luxury supply chains, it hasn’t been recognized as a luxury origin. AKINNA’s goal is to be a luxury brand that combines international design with Indian craftsmanship.
Annika studied Luxury Accessories Design in Milan after leaving the London School of Economics. Her first bag, the Lucia Bag, won a design competition and was featured at Milan Fashion Week. Sanchit has luxury marketing experience from France and has worked at Hugo Boss Parfums and Whirlpool in Italy. Together, they want to create the D2C business model India needs.
Bipin Shah, Founder of Zeropearl VC, is joining AKINNA’s board, which will provide strategic advice. Shah believes India is ready to be a major player in global luxury and praises the founders’ vision and commitment to ethical sourcing. Zeropearl sees this investment as a show of support for one of India’s most exciting premium D2C brands.
AKINNA’s future plans involve scaling up and sharing its story. This funding comes at a time when the D2C industry is talking about IPOs and acquisitions. AKINNA aims to be one of the top sustainable and premium D2C brands that India exports. Its growth plans reflect the trends in the D2C market, such as omnichannel strategies and supply chain innovation.
The founders believe this funding is more than just money; it’s recognition of Indian culture. Annika and Sanchit say that while Indian leather has been used in global luxury for years, India hasn’t had the chance to tell its own story. With AKINNA, they aim to confidently establish Indian luxury on the global stage. This aligns with the current D2C brand-building trends and positions AKINNA as a potential future unicorn in the D2C space.
As the D2C industry focuses on revenue growth, AKINNA’s progress will be closely watched as it aims to redefine India’s place in the global luxury market. Currently, it’s one of the top-funded seed-stage D2C brands and a clear example of the shift from mass-market to premium stories in the Indian D2C scene.
