Homegrown Sneaker Brands On Our Radar | 2023

Homegrown sneaker and street culture in India is evolving at a rapid pace and as we get closer and closer to the end of the year, we’re seeing the emergence of brands and labels that are taking the bull by the horns and carving out unique niches for themselves; ones that are rooted firmly in an amalgamation and an intersection of global trends, vibrant design languages, and a commitment to uniquely homegrown cultural authenticity.

Homegrown sneaker brands are getting a jump on their global counterparts by imbibing their creations with stories, cultural signifiers, and aesthetic motifs that resonate with individuals across demographics. Here are two such standout sneaker labels that have emerged in 2023.

1. Gully Labs

With a manifesto as impressive as its sneakers, Gully Labs has certainly made its mark on the homegrown sneaker landscape over the course of the last year. By invoking the spirit of the “Indian dream” the brand has set out to merge pop culture, nostalgia, and uniquely sub-continental narrative motifs with contemporary sneaker silhouettes and designs. Through their work over the last year, they’ve forged a bold path forward and shown their contemporaries that it’s entirely possible to be unique and ingenuitive, even in a space as saturated as sneakers.

Gully Labs’ identity as a brand aligns itself with a larger homegrown movement towards creating a global identity that is entirely emancipated from our colonial past. They represent the ideals and aspirations of a generation that is collectively shaping the cultural landscape of urban India. In the process of doing so, they are positioning India as a purveyor and tastemaker of not just global sneaker culture, but of culture as a whole.

You can find out more about Gully Labs here.

2. Comet

The first thing that catches your eye about Comet’s sneakers is their colourways and the unique almost space-age aesthetic they appear to covet. With a mission to “disrupt monotony” the brand is inspired by and takes cues from the celestial beauty of the universe as a whole. Like its fiery namesake blazing across the night sky, Comet has blazed a trail across the homegrown sneaker landscape in 2023. Their presence has been marked by ingenuitive design and a narrative that encourages its wearers to embrace non-conformity and experience all the wonders that life has to offer.

Comet sneakers are for those who dare to shake up the status quo and break the rules that tie us to the hum-drum monotonies of our day-to-day routines. They aim to be the personification of following your heart and pursuing what you’re passionate about rather than choosing the safe, tried and tested route. In doing so, they hope to speak to the collective yearning of generations of Indians who’ve been shackled by the burden of expectation and societal pressure. Through their products, Comet is aiming to take homegrown sneakers straight to the moon.

You can find out more about Comet here.

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