Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) lifestyle brand Zouk has secured $1.5 million as part of its pre-series A round led by Stellaris Venture Partners. The round has also seen participation from the founders of Wow Skin Science, and existing investors Titan Capital.

The fresh capital will be utilized by the company to expand its presence in India and new global markets. Zouk will also strengthen its supply chain and distribution channels, and extend its product line with the newly infused funds.

Disha Singh, Co-Founder, and Chief Executive Officer, Zouk, said, “In Stellaris, we have found the right partner, who can guide us to become an iconic brand in the coming years. We are excited that Rahul Chowdhri, Partner at Stellaris, will join our board. His vast experience of guiding multiple companies from their early stages to massive size and lucrative exits will be a big plus for us. Our first milestone is to scale Zouk to a Rs 100 crore brand in the next couple of years.”

The product portfolio of Zouk consists of laptop bags, tote handbags, slings, and chain wallets made from vegan leather, which is sourced and manufactured in India. The company plans to take its products to international markets of the US, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East while extending its range of products.

Presently, Zouk has more than 50,000 customers and plans to grow to double this base in the next six months.

Rahul Chowdhri, the Partner, Stellaris Venture Partners, stated, “The Indian D2C market is at its prime today, consumers have undergone a mindset shift in choosing to go online for their shopping needs and covid-19 has further accelerated this behavior. There’s never been a better time to build new-age consumer brands in and from India. E-commerce marketplaces and social media platforms provide a level-playing field for challenger brands like Zouk to compete with incumbent brands, and carve their own niche.”

Earlier this year, Zouk raised its seed capital from Titan Capital, Founders of Beardo and Mamaearth.