E198 - ₹250 Crore in 2 Years: How NewMe Reinvented Women’s Fashion in India - Sumit Joria, Co-founder

Indian Silicon Valley with Jivraj Singh Sachar

In this episode, we sit down with Sumit Joria, the co-founder and CEO of NewMe, one of India's fastest-growing fashion brands redefining how young Indian women shop. Sumit shares the untold story behind NewMe's success, revealing the bold decisions, innovative strategies, and consumer-first philosophy that have made the brand a household name among Gen Z shoppers. From humble beginnings to launching nine stores across seven cities, this conversation is a deep dive into what it takes to build a globally aspirational fashion brand out of India. We explore how NewMe disrupted the cluttered fashion market by prioritizing freshness, data-driven design, and an inventory-light supply chain. Sumit reflects on NewMe's foundational values, including the brand's unique approach to retail expansion, creating Instagram-worthy in-store experiences, and ensuring its DNA resonates with every customer interaction. He also sheds light on navigating funding challenges, building a resilient team, and the pivotal moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. This episode is packed with practical insights and authentic reflections for anyone interested in fashion, entrepreneurship, or consumer brands. Whether you're a budding founder, a business leader, or a fashion enthusiast, you'll find immense value in Sumit's transparent storytelling. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:20 - How did they build NewMe? 4:12 - What observations did they make while building NewMe? 8:00 - What is the branding and marketing strategy of NewMe? 12:50 - What foundational aspects were they clear about? 17:10 - What should you know about the supply chain in the fashion industry? 22:58 - How does NewMe approach design? 28:35 - Key learnings from the pop-up in Guwahati 33:45 - What did NewMe founders observe in pop-ups? 39:55 - How do they view retail expansion? 47:10 - What is the customer experience like within the store? 52:00 - Where is consumption happening in India? 1:09:00 - How do they build confidence with investors? 1:16:50 - When things weren’t working out for NewMe 1:26:20 - Sumit’s life beyond NewMe 1:36:10 - How do Sumit’s friends describe him? 1:38:40 - How does Sumit view life? 1:48:56 - Outro Follow JIvraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with friends, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment. Your support helps us bring more such incredible stories to light. #IndianSiliconValley #NewMe #FashionEntrepreneurship #SumitJoria #GenZFashion #Startups #RetailExpansion #IndiaFashion #ConsumerBrands #Leadership