Wigzo by Shiprocket has returned with the fourth edition of its startup networking event, D2CVerse Fashion. Scheduled to be held on May 20, 2023, in Bengaluru, the event is expected to see the participation of 250 fashion startups from the D2C space. 

D2C is a growing segment that has a massive market opportunity, especially in the fashion space. Further, the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, too, has played a pivotal role in catalysing the adoption of online shopping, thereby boosting the growth of many digital-first D2C brands. 

According to Inc42’s 2022 Ecommerce Report, the Indian D2C space is expected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth) of 24% by 2030, reaching a market size of $302 Bn. Meanwhile, the fashion segment is expected to become a $32.79 Bn market opportunity by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 13.35%.

Talking about the march platform’s networking event D2CVerse, Mohammed Umair, cofounder and CEO of the martech platform, said, “We wanted to un-conference the ecosystem. With D2CVerse we wanted to take a relaxed approach to create an atmosphere where people could informally connect and network with peers, founders and even competitors”.

Umair added that D2CVerse is a great platform to connect early stage startups with growth stage brand founders who can share actionable insights and wisdom with the new players.

Talking about the inception of D2CVerse, Atyab Mohammad, cofounder and CTO of Wigzo by Shiprocket, said, “We started D2CVerse in early 2022 because we wanted to create a networking event that would help early-stage businesses grow, connect and network. Our previous editions were well-received. Today, we have built a community of D2C brands and brand enablers, investors and marketeers, across industries.”

He added that through the event he ultimately envisions bigger goals for brands like mergers and acquisitions, on the spot funding deals and overall a platform for nurturing collaborations for greater impact.

For D2CVerse, Wigzo has partnered with retail-platform Omuni, creator platform HYPD, adtech firm AdYogi, Fastrr checkout by Shiprocket and ecommerce photography studio WhiteBG.  Its media partner is Inc42. 

What To Expect At The Fourth Edition Of D2CVerse?

As many as 250 D2C fashion brands, including the likes of lingerie and loungewear brand Nykd by Nykaa, footwear brand Rapawalk, fusion wear startups Libas and Jisora, activewear startup Kica and men’s wear brand Snitch, Indian wear startup House Of Chikankari and jewellery brands like Giva and Tipsyfly, among others, are expected to join the fourth edition of D2CVerse. The brands would also be showcased during a fashion show. 

Umair said that this year’s D2CVerse will be more glamorous and the invitees will include fashion journalists, influencers, and creative professionals from the fashion industry, besides key investors and marketeers. Speakers will cover D2C trends that are constantly changing.

Since the fourth edition is centred around fashion, the fireside chat and panel discussions will be hosted around the key themes and trends surrounding the fashion industry and how D2C brands can tap it to the fullest. The keynote speaker for the event will be Kulin Lalbhai, executive director of Arvind Fashions, a textile manufacturer and parent company of Flying Machine.

Wigzo’s collaboration with HYPD, one of its partners for D2CVerse, will allow businesses to connect with creators for their brand and product awareness and to further reach out to target audience. Without disclosing the names, Atyab said that there will be well-known fashion influencers walking the ramp to display the brand products. 

“The partnership is a step towards bridging the gap between fashion businesses and fashion creators, making it easier for both to collaborate and create. Brands will be able to showcase the latest fashion trends and styles through their products by harnessing the power of the creator economy”, said Umair. 

He believes that through collaboration and sharing best practices, boundaries of the D2C world can be pushed, helping brands to achieve their full potential. “We are committed to driving innovation and growth for D2C brands, and we are excited to be part of this dynamic and rapidly evolving industry,” Umair said.

Meanwhile, founders such as Sidhant Keshwani of Libas, Chinu Kala of Ruban Accessories, cofounder and CEO of House of Chikankari Akriti Rawal and The Pant Project’s Udit Toshniwal, among others, will talk about the trends shaping the fashion industry in the D2C space.

The last D2CVerse event, which was held in Delhi, saw the participation of D2C brands from the electronic gadgets, jewellery, apparel, beauty, and personal care segments. 

The event, which was flushed with industry participation, saw key industry leaders — such as Innovist’s Vimal Bhola; Dhruv Madhok of Arata; Bharat Sethi of Rage Coffee, Paras Batra of Leaf Studio, Chetan Siyal of Snitch and Sachin Shetty of GIVA — speak about D2C trends and strategies to help them overcome future challenges.