Clog London, a retail-first, mass-premium footwear brand, has successfully raised its seed funding round from VG Angels, with participation from members of the VG Angels investor network.
Founded by Gopal Kishan Rathor in 2018, Clog London is building a new-age footwear brand for India’s fast-growing and aspirational consumers, particularly across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The brand offers a wide range of trend-forward and comfortable footwear for men and women. The brand aims to bridge the gap between global brands and unorganised market players by offering consumers a combination of style, comfort, quality and affordability.
The company has developed a retail-first omnichannel growth model, with physical stores emerging as a key driver of its expansion. Its pilot Exclusive Brand Outlet (EBO) in Jhansi, launched in 2023, helped validate consumer demand and the brand’s store-level business model.
Since then, Clog London has expanded its retail presence across Jhansi, Gandhidham, Karnal, Noida, Bareilly and Delhi, with additional stores signed or in the pipeline across several high-potential markets in India.
Speaking about the fundraise, Gopal Kishan Rathor, Founder & CEO of Clog London, said, “Clog London was built around a simple belief—that consumers in India’s emerging cities deserve footwear that combines style, comfort, quality and affordability. We have spent the last few years building and validating our retail model market by market, and this fundraise will help us accelerate that journey. We are excited to take Clog London to more consumers across India.”
The funding will be utilised to accelerate retail expansion, strengthen inventory, deepen the product portfolio and enhance the brand’s presence across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.
Siraj, Investor at VG Angels, said, “Clog London is addressing an attractive opportunity in India’s footwear market by bringing together design, quality, comfort and accessibility. The company’s retail-first approach, strong product portfolio and early validation of its business model provide a strong foundation for scalable growth. We are excited to support the team as it expands its retail footprint and builds a leading mass-premium footwear brand.”
Vivek Kumar, CEO of Venture Garage, added, “Gopal and the team are rethinking footwear retail with a sharp focus on product, store economics and disciplined expansion. The early success of Clog London’s retail model, combined with strong franchise interest and a focused approach to store expansion, gives the company a compelling foundation for scale. We are excited to support Clog London in its journey to build a leading footwear brand for India’s emerging consumers.”
With the fresh capital and an ambitious expansion strategy, Clog London plans to significantly strengthen its retail footprint in the coming months. The company has set a target of building a 100+ store network and growing into one of India’s leading mass-premium footwear brands.
