The Pant Project, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) fashion brand specializing in custom-made and ready-to-wear pants, has raised $4.25 million in its maiden funding round led by Sorin Investments, an early-stage investment firm founded by former KKR India CEO Sanjay Nayar. The funding round also saw participation from MGA Ventures, Huddle, Dexter Ventures, and Indian Silicon Valley, as well as angel investors including Arjun Vaidya, founder of Dr Vaidya’s, and Avni Biyani, founder of Foodstories.
Co-founder Dhruv Toshniwal stated that the funds will be used to expand the company’s offline retail presence, enhance branding and marketing efforts, develop technology, and grow the team. Currently, The Pant Project operates three brick-and-mortar stores—two in Mumbai and one in Bengaluru—with plans to open 25 to 30 more stores across India over the next three years. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to bolster the brand’s omnichannel presence and meet growing consumer demand.
The Pant Project, launched in 2020 by Dhruv and Udit Toshniwal, members of the Banswara Syntex family, initially focused on men’s pants but has since expanded to include women’s pants. The brand offers over 250 styles, including formal pants, chinos, jeans, cargos, joggers, power stretch knit pants, luxury linens, and wool pants. The company’s revenue is currently split, with 60% coming from top-tier cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and Ahmedabad, and 40% from tier II cities.
Dhruv Toshniwal highlighted that 65% of the company’s revenue is generated through its direct-to-consumer website, which has served over 100,000 customers. The goal is to leverage the new funding to reach Rs 100 crore in revenue within the next 18-24 months, up from Rs 31 crore in the last financial year as a bootstrapped company. The Pant Project also aims to enhance its product offerings with more casual and athleisure options, catering to the evolving preferences of modern consumers.
Mandar Dandekar, partner at Sorin Investments, praised The Pant Project for creating a strong brand recall as a destination for versatile bottom wear, driven by deep customer loyalty and repeat behavior. Dandekar noted that the company’s understanding of the apparel supply chain and commitment to product innovation, particularly through high-performance fabrics, positions it well to capitalize on India’s growing consumption economy.
The Pant Project has built a capital-efficient business model, achieving significant growth with a robust presence across online marketplaces such as Amazon and Myntra, in addition to its physical stores. The company’s focus on providing custom-fit pants for a diverse range of body sizes, backed by data on over 100,000 Indian men, sets it apart in the competitive fashion market.