In India’s rapidly changing direct-to-consumer market, eyewear retail is quietly emerging as a strong D2C business opportunity, and Netre, based in Gujarat, is trying to change how vision-care retail is built and experienced in the country. In just eight months, the young brand has opened 15 stores in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Baroda. Netre is now preparing to expand nationwide with plans for over 100 stores next year, showing its serious intention to be one of the fastest-growing D2C brands in 2025.
Netre’s founder, Parthiv Patel, says that starting with only company-owned stores was deliberate. He said that the first step was to prove the brand’s credibility and show that it was more than just another discount eyewear store, but a long-term, brand-focused player in the D2C market. “We didn’t want to open just a couple stores and then start selling franchises,” he said. “We needed to show we were serious.” The brand has now established an operational foundation in Gujarat, tested processes, mapped customer behavior, and refined its product selection. Now, the D2C expansion plans are beginning.
Netre is developing a franchise model that requires little investment from investors but is led by the company in terms of execution. The brand wants franchise partners who believe in its mission of providing top-quality, science-backed vision care, and not just investors looking to put their money somewhere. This aligns with a major trend in the D2C industry, where new brands want partners, not just passive investors. The rollout strategy is also bold: whenever Netre enters a new city, it will open five to six stores in a short period to create awareness and recognition.
Unlike traditional eyewear retail chains, Netre is positioning itself as a vision care brand rather than just a frames store. Every store is designed to be like a boutique: simple, attractive, and high-end. No clutter, no bargain-basement feel, but more focus on experience and careful selection. Netre is also taking a unique approach by dividing its selections by customer type, such as women-only spaces, men-only zones, and Gen Z sections, each with different brand offerings, price ranges, and collections. This customized approach, backed by a six-month testing period per store, reflects the D2C brand-building strategies that have been successful worldwide.
While Netre doesn’t make its own lenses, it works with global leaders like ZEISS, S&O, and BRX to ensure research-backed results. The brand is not rushing to saturate markets, but its ambition is clearly national. Gujarat will remain its base, followed by expansion into Central and Western India.
The brand’s main idea is simple: Indians don’t just need glasses, they need vision care. And Netre wants to spearhead that change while becoming one of India’s top D2C fashion and lifestyle brands in the eyewear market. In a market dominated by price wars and discounts, Netre is betting on brand, design, trust, and a national presence based on scientific, forward-looking retail. In India’s current wave of D2C startups, this could be one of the most interesting retail stories to follow.
