India’s outdoor apparel space is evolving, and at the heart of this transformation is a new breed of leaders who bring both corporate retail rigor and startup agility. One such name making quiet but impactful moves is Veejay Verma, the retail mind currently helping scale Gokyo Outdoor Clothing, a fast-growing Indian brand focused on performance wear for explorers, trekkers, and everyday adventurers.
Verma will head offline retail (EBO & Franchise Operations), business expansion and business development at Gokyo.
From Bestseller India to Gokyo: A Strategic Shift in Indian Fashion Retail
Before joining Gokyo, Veejay Verma was Category Manager at BESTSELLER India, the home of globally recognized fashion labels such as Vero Moda, ONLY, Jack & Jones, and Selected Homme. His time at Bestseller gave him an in-depth understanding of India’s fast-fashion and bridge-to-premium retail landscape—insights that will now help shape Gokyo’s uniquely Indian take on technical apparel.
At BESTSELLER, Verma’s work involved planning and seasonal strategy across key categories. He helped launch ‘UNMATCHED by Jack & Jones‘, India’s first premium Made-To-Order fashion concept. His work involved revitalizing brand perception, winning back premium customers from luxury competitors, and expanding UNMATCHED from digital-only to an integrated omnichannel brand.
Verma’s high-impact leadership includes driving business growth through strategic innovation, operational excellence, building omnichannel-led brands, and a retail ecosystem that drives customer engagement, revenue growth, and lasting brand equity.
His experience in transforming brands into market leaders with scalable, sustainable business models will come particularly in handy at Gokyo, where outdoor gear must meet very different expectations—from urban buyers seeking style and comfort to serious trekkers needing all-weather performance.
Why Veejay Verma’s Role at Gokyo Outdoor Clothing Matters
Founded in 2022, Gokyo Outdoor Clothing is one of India’s few homegrown brands focused on technical performance wear. With product lines such as Explorer, Alpine, and Sherpa, Gokyo addresses the growing demand for functional, durable, and stylish outdoor gear that works across India’s diverse terrains—from Himalayan hikes to monsoon getaways and everyday city commutes.
Veejay Verma’s entry into Gokyo signals the brand’s readiness to move from startup experimentation to structured retail scaling. His background equips him to drive this transition across three key areas:
1. Category & Product Intelligence
Understanding the “why” behind each SKU is crucial in outdoor apparel, where fabric, fit, climate suitability, and durability must align. Verma’s ability to decode data, track consumer preferences, and optimise core vs. seasonal styles will help Gokyo refine its product strategy across demographics and usage profiles.
2. Retail and Channel Strategy
At BESTSELLER, Verma witnessed and learnt from the rapid evolution of India’s retail formats—from Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs) to shop-in-shops and omnichannel retailing. This experience will feed into Gokyo’s current roadmap: expanding across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Nashik, Noida, Srinagar, Kalimpong, Rishikesh, and other adventure and urban hubs.
With plans to reach 30+ stores and ₹100 crore in revenue by FY26, retail execution will be key—and Verma’s structured approach to merchandising and store-level demand planning makes that goal more achievable.
3. Consumer-Centric Brand Building
What sets successful apparel brands apart is not just design or pricing—it’s consumer alignment. Verma brings with him the ability to read market signals and translate them into meaningful brand actions. Whether it’s deciding which categories to double down on, introducing new layering systems, or tailoring fits for Indian body types, his instincts are grounded in both data and on-ground realities.
Building a New Chapter in Indian Outdoor Retail
The Indian outdoor apparel market is still at a nascent stage, with much of the consumer base unfamiliar with the difference between cotton jackets and performance outerwear. Brands like Gokyo are not just selling products—they’re educating the market, expanding usage occasions, and creating an Indian narrative for functional fashion.
As global brands enter the Indian activewear and outdoor segment, Gokyo’s India-first approach—combined with retail minds like Veejay Verma’s—could offer a competitive edge in this rapidly growing category.
The Road Ahead for Gokyo and Veejay Verma
For Veejay Verma, Gokyo represents an opportunity to build from the ground up, applying everything he’s learned from a global fashion powerhouse to a homegrown Indian brand with international ambitions.
His journey—from managing fashion categories at Bestseller India to enabling Gokyo’s performance wear playbook—reflects the kind of retail leadership India needs today: sharp, grounded, data-informed, and consumer-obsessed.
