A new wave of Indian sneaker labels is redefining homegrown style and sustainability. Thaely turns plastic bags and bottles into PETA-certified kicks, Banjaaran Studio handcrafts made-to-order pairs loved by actors, Built focuses on natural movement design, Echoes Above perfects a terrace-culture suede silhouette, and CHK refines a hero sneaker made in its own Tamil Nadu factory.
You know Comet and their million different concepts. You know Almost Gods' first sneaker drop. And of course you know Gully Labs. And honestly, after a point, we won't blame you if your heart asks for more options when you go looking for new kicks. Which is why, we compiled our own list of homegrown brands to look out for. From environment friendly designs to reinterpreting iconic designs, these are the brands we have our eyes on. Check them out below.
Founded by Ashay Bhave, Thaely turns waste into footwear. Every pair uses ten upcycled plastic bags and twelve recycled bottles, bonded into a proprietary fabric the brand calls ThaelyTex. The effort has earned Thaely a PETA certification and PETA's Best Sneaker Award in 2021, on top of a B Impact score of 80.8. Design-wise, the brand's most popular offering is the Tech Tabi, which gives a sneaker twist to Martin Margiela's iconic design.
Out of a Faridabad workshop in the Delhi NCR belt, every pair is handcrafted and made-to-order at the Banjaaran Studio's own production unit. It's built an unlikely following among actors: Rajkummar Rao wore the Bageecha sneakers for a Filmfare cover, Babil Khan has been seen in the illustrated Oculus design, and Manoj Bajpayee and Kay Kay Menon have both shown up in the label off-duty. The Maati Bomber, with its chestnut leather and coarse weave body, is the one we love.
Founded this year by Vedant Lamba, who built Mainstreet Marketplace into one of India's largest platforms for sneaker and streetwear resale, and Vijayant Dhaka, a former PolicyBazaar employee, Built is betting on "natural movement" footwear: wide toe boxes, minimal heel drop, moulds built in-house and the like. The drop to know here is the Natural Movement Shoe [V1 Edition], a zero-drop unisex sneaker with a breathable mesh and bonded-TPU upper.
Chennai-based and founded by Fabin Prakash, Echoes Above has built its name around one silhouette. The Away Day is a suede sneaker referencing British terrace culture, the '80s and '90s moment when football fans turned matchday dressing into a style statement. Believe us when we say that it is the most comfortable sneaker around.
Founded in Bengaluru by Myntra co-founder Sankar Bora alongside Deepak Patil, Bharat Mahajan and Deepan Babu, CHK has rebuilt itself around a single hero silhouette. Made at the brand's own factory in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, it's Stride sneaker is like if Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 and Axel Arigato Daze Runner had a baby.