170 Kurtas Sold Without Spending a Rupee on Ads

Welcome to ChaiNet! In this episode, host Rachit speaks with Sanchita, founder of Mr. Sa a men’s wear brand focused on short kurtas for daily wear. She shares her journey from engineering to corporate sales and finally launching her own brand in 2025, aiming to make Indian wear a daily habit for men rather than just festive wear.Key takeaways:* Market gap identified: Short kurtas exist (FabIndia, Sada) but aren’t marketed as a daily habit Mr. Sa positions itself as a lifestyle shift.* Validation: Surveyed 300–350 people before launching to confirm demand and timing in the growing men’s wear market.* Content & burnout: Created a 75-day pre-launch content series but took a mental break in Rishikesh when burnout hit, realizing pauses are okay.* Biggest challenge: Converting Instagram virality into actual sales marketing a cultural habit takes time and patience.* Advantage: Family background in textiles (grandfather’s fabric shop, mother’s boutique) helped with sourcing and quality.* Advice to founders: Take the leap of faith, embrace failure as learning, and stay persistent you’ll figure it out along the way.Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com