Shein, Snitch, Urbanic: How Fast Fashion Apps Are Taking Over India in 2025
Something interesting happened last month. My cousin showed me her wardrobe, and I did not recognize a single brand. No Allen Solly. No Van Heusen. Just names like Snitch, Urbanic, NewMe, and a bunch of Instagram labels I had never heard of.
Welcome to the fast fashion revolution in India. And it is moving faster than anyone expected.
The Numbers Behind the Trend
According to Bain & Company, trend-first fashion in India is expected to grow fourfold to reach $8-10 billion by 2028. More than half of this will come from online sales.
That is a massive shift. And it is happening because of a perfect storm:
- Young population obsessed with trends
- Social media driving instant style changes
- Affordable pricing that matches Indian wallets
- Fast supply chains that can deliver new styles weekly
Who Are the Key Players?
The fast fashion space in India is getting crowded. Here are the major players:
Global Giants
- Shein - The Chinese giant that changed the game globally
- H&M - Swedish brand with strong India presence
- Zara - Premium fast fashion from Spain
Indian Disruptors
- Snitch - Men fashion brand that became a viral sensation
- Urbanic - Gen Z favorite for women fashion
- NewMe - Instagram-first fashion brand
- Zudio by Trent - Tata backed value fashion retailer
Platform Play
- Flipkart Spoyl - Flipkart answer to fast fashion
- Myntra Fwd - Myntra trend-first vertical
The Secret Sauce: How They Win
These brands follow a tech-driven playbook that traditional fashion just cannot match:
- Social media first - They spend heavily on Instagram and YouTube to target Gen Z
- Hyper-trendy collections - New styles launch daily, not seasonally
- Test and scale model - Release small quantities, see what sells, then mass produce
- Aggressive pricing - Trendy looks at ₹500-1500 price points
- Influencer army - Micro-influencers creating OOTD content 24/7
Why This Matters for Indian Shoppers
For consumers, this trend means:
- More variety - You can look different every week without breaking the bank
- Better prices - Competition is driving costs down
- Instagram-worthy styles - What you see online, you can actually buy
- Quick updates - Trends from Seoul or Paris reach India in weeks, not months
The Dark Side of Fast Fashion
Let us be honest. There are concerns:
- Quality issues - Some items barely survive a few washes
- Environmental impact - More clothes means more waste
- Sizing inconsistency - Returns are common
- Ethical questions - How are prices this low?
But as reported by Economic Times, the convenience and affordability are winning for now.
My Top Picks for Different Needs
- Best for men - Snitch (great quality for the price)
- Best for women - Urbanic (trendy and affordable)
- Best for basics - Zudio (unbeatable value)
- Best for premium - H&M or Zara (reliable quality)
What is Next?
Expect more players to enter. Amazon and Flipkart are doubling down on fashion. Local D2C brands are raising funding. And international players are watching India closely.
The only losers? Traditional brands that cannot keep up with the speed of trends.
What is your favorite fast fashion app? Let me know in the comments!
Sources: Bain & Company, IBEF, Economic Times
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