From Bengaluru’s Digital Roots to Delhi’s Flagship — and Dubai Beyond
In less than a decade, The Bear House has travelled from being a digital-first challenger brand to joining India’s 10,000 sq. ft. retail club — and now stepping onto the global stage.
The latest marker of its domestic ambition is a 10,000 sq. ft. flagship in Janakpuri, Delhi, now its largest store in North India. But even as the brand consolidates its offline presence at home, it has simultaneously crossed borders. In November 2025, The Bear House opened its first international flagship at Al Ghurair Centre in Dubai, marking a decisive entry into the Middle East market.
For a brand launched in 2017, the arc has been swift — and strategic.
Born Online, Built on Fit and Fabric
Founded by husband-wife duo Harsh Somaiya and Tanvi Somaiya, and headquartered in Bengaluru, The Bear House emerged at a time when India’s menswear market was heavily contested. Legacy department store brands, global fast-fashion chains and homegrown mid-premium labels were already entrenched.
The founders chose a sharply defined lane: contemporary smart-casuals rooted in Scandinavian minimalism, premium fabrics, tailored fits and understated European design cues.
Early traction came through strong marketplace performance, especially on Amazon India, where the brand quickly gained visibility among digitally native shoppers. Its appearance on Shark Tank India further amplified consumer awareness and investor interest.
Rather than chase logo-heavy branding, The Bear House positioned itself around craftsmanship and wearability — shirts that transition from boardroom to bar, overshirts that layer effortlessly, silhouettes that speak of quiet confidence rather than flash.
The Financial Backbone
The brand’s retail expansion is anchored in steady financial growth. The Bear House has reported revenues in the vicinity of ₹160+ crore in FY24, with leadership publicly articulating ambitions to scale meaningfully beyond the ₹200 crore mark as offline presence accelerates.
Its capital journey has been equally notable. On Shark Tank India, the company secured ₹3 crore in a mix of equity and debt funding, a deal that not only strengthened its balance sheet but also elevated brand recall nationwide.
Subsequently, it raised a significant Series A round — reportedly around ₹50 crore — led by JM Financial. The funding is being channelled into store expansion, working capital, brand building and omnichannel integration.
Industry observers believe that with improving sell-through rates and premium positioning, the brand has been able to maintain healthy gross margins even as it scales.
Janakpuri: Scale as a Statement
The Janakpuri flagship represents more than additional square footage. It signals The Bear House’s confidence in India’s offline menswear opportunity.
At 10,000 sq. ft., the store allows the brand to present its full assortment — from core smart-casual staples to seasonal edits — within a cohesive design language. Wood textures, muted tones and subtle bear-themed motifs reinforce brand identity without overwhelming the product narrative.
North India remains one of the country’s most robust menswear consumption belts. Delhi NCR, in particular, rewards brands that combine aspirational styling with strong value propositions. By investing in large-format retail here, The Bear House is positioning itself as a long-term player rather than a digital experiment.
Dubai: The First International Den
The Bear House Joins the 10,000 sq ft Club — And Goes Global – Story for Images BOF OR indiaretailingWhile India anchors its base, Dubai signals its global intent.
The 1,100 sq. ft. flagship at Al Ghurair Centre is designed with modern aesthetics and subtle bear-themed accents, tailored to the tastes of a cosmopolitan Middle Eastern audience. Though smaller than its Delhi flagship, the store is strategically placed in a mall known for high footfall and diverse demographics.
For founder Harsh Somaiya, the overseas play is as much about economics as brand aspiration. International retail, he notes, is undeniably more expensive than setting up stores in India. “The viability comes from offering relevant assortments, higher throughput, better full-price sell-through and higher average selling prices,” he has explained in conversations around the expansion.
The Middle East offers precisely that equation — strong Indian diaspora presence, premium consumption behaviour and higher ASPs compared to domestic markets.
Dubai, therefore, is less a symbolic outpost and more a calculated entry point.
The Omnichannel Balancing Act
The Bear House’s evolution reflects a larger truth about India’s new-age fashion brands: digital scale builds awareness, but physical retail builds longevity.
The company’s strategy appears calibrated. Marketplace dominance fuels discovery. D2C strengthens brand equity. Exclusive brand outlets enhance experiential depth. Large-format stores create authority. International forays add aspiration.
Unlike some D2C peers that over-expanded too quickly, The Bear House has paced its physical rollout, using data from online demand clusters to identify viable offline markets.
The Road Ahead
With domestic large-format stores gaining traction and the Dubai flagship marking its first global footprint, the next chapter could see:
- More flagship-scale outlets in metro India
- Deeper penetration into Tier I high streets
- Category extensions beyond core smart-casuals
- Broader Middle East presence
If India’s menswear premiumisation continues — and early indicators suggest it will — brands that balance design integrity with operational discipline stand to gain disproportionately.
The Bear House began as a digitally savvy challenger brand in Bengaluru. Today, it stands as a growing omnichannel force — equally comfortable in a 10,000 sq. ft. Delhi flagship and a Dubai mall storefront.
From den to destination, its journey reflects the new grammar of Indian fashion retail: build online, scale offline, and think global early.
