Lingerie portals eye funding boost for further growth

With homegrown labels, online platforms and existing foreign labels offering wide choice for today’s New Age woman, the lingerie segment in India is witnessing a positive growth. Platforms like Zivame and PrettySecrets are looking for fresh funding to boost the business as they expand their offerings with private labels. Zivame aims to raise over 25 million dollars (over Rs 154 crores), while PrettySecrets is seeking around 10 million dollars (over Rs 61 crores).

As per a Technopak estimate the innerwear market in India is around Rs 17,750 crores and is expected to grow three times in 10 years. No wonder, brands and ecommerce players dedicated to the segment are heavily banking on the prospects of this segment.

Zivame offers over 5,000 styles and more than 100 sizes with around 20,000 products from brands such as Anita, Leonisa, Panache, Enamor, Wonderbra, Triumph, Lovable, Jockey, Amanté, Bwitch, Curvy Kate, Le Mystere and many others. It launched a range of CouCou Teens collection of innerwear and nightwear for young girls between the age group 8 to 18 years, in January. Sources claims that the company had raised around five million dollars (Rs 30 crores) in a bridge round from existing investors Unilazer Ventures, IDG Ventures and Kalaari Capital late last year.

PrettySecrets launched as offline nightwear brand through 300 points of sale across the country, later moved to became an online business in late 2012. Offering innerwear and sleepwear, the brand has succeeded in creating a niche among competing labels. Apart from its own webstore, the brand is also retailed on marketplaces like Jabong, Myntra, Flipkart and Amazon.