Fashion in a flash: Five rapid apparel delivery startups race to redefine instant shopping

Finding basics like T-shirts on horizontal quick commerce platforms like Zepto, Instamart and Blinkit is no longer enough for ecommerce shoppers, who are increasingly adopting rapid apparel delivery and are willing to pay for the convenience.

Startups like Silkk and Knot Now are tapping into this demand. While consumers benefit from home delivery, it helps companies manage inventories. Since the delivery timelines are shorter, customers are more likely to be home to collect parcels. This significantly brings down return-to-origin requests and failed delivery instances. A drop in reverse shipping costs comes as an added benefit to these platforms.

1. Slikk

Founded in 2024 by Akshay Gulati, Om Prakash Swami, and Bipin Singh, Bengaluru-based Slikk is a quick-commerce platform delivering apparel and accessories within 60 minutes. The startup operates through its app and website, offering a curated selection of trendy clothing from over 80 brands such as Snitch, The Souled Store, Freakins, and Bewakoof.

The product is primarily aimed at Gen Z and millennial shoppers, who prioritise convenience and choices. Slikk differentiates itself with AI-led curation, instant refunds, and try-and-buy options that mirror the immediacy of in-store purchases.

To ensure ultra-fast turnaround, the company relies on a tech-enabled supply chain, dark stores near customer clusters, and its own delivery fleet. Earlier this year, it raised $10 million in a Series A round led by Nexus Venture Partners and Lightspeed, Slikk plans to expand its lifestyle categories, including makeup and personal care, roll out instant returns, and extend coverage across more urban pin codes.

2. Knot Now

Founded in 2025 by IIT Bombay alumni Archit Nanda and Rachit Bansal, KNOT is a Mumbai-based quick commerce fashion startup that promises 60-minute delivery and a Try ‘n Buy experience at the doorstep.

The platform partners with over 70 brands, including Snitch, The Souled Store, Bonkers Corner, The Bear House, and Off Duty, offering a curated shopping experience for Gen Z and millennial consumers.

The company is backed by Kae Capital, Sparrow Capital, Boundless Ventures LLP, Kumar Saurabh (Aukera Jewellery), and founders of leading homegrown fashion labels.

KNOT also raised $3 million in a Pre-Series A round to expand beyond Mumbai, invest in AI-powered virtual try-ons, and strengthen its logistics and tech stack.

3. Zulu Club

Founded in 2024, Zulu Club is a Gurugram-based hyperlocal fashion startup blending online ease with the confidence of offline shopping. The platform enables users to shop from nearby malls, receive curated Try-at-Home kits, and enjoy 100-minute doorstep delivery, allowing shoppers to try multiple outfits before buying.

Targeted at urban millennials and Gen Z, Zulu Club combines AI-driven recommendations with human-assisted personal shopping for a more personalised experience.

The startup has raised $250,000 in pre-seed funding from TDV Partners to expand across key neighborhoods in Delhi NCR, enhance its Try-at-Home flows and personalisation features, and deepen partnerships with outlet stores and mall retailers.

It also plans to invest strategically in logistics, operations, and customer engagement as it scales its urban footprint.

Founded by Adarsh Bhatia, who previously led business at Fashinza, Zulu Club’s model addresses key structural challenges in fashion ecommerce, such as high returns and poor profitability, by enabling cross-sell and up-sell, boosting average order value (AOV).

4.NEWME

Fast Fashion player NEWME introduced NEWME Zip, a service that promises to deliver fashion orders within 60 minutes, in May this year. The company rolled out the service in Bengaluru after a 90-minute pilot in Delhi-NCR, offering over 1,500 styles through a network of dark stores across the city.

Founded in 2022 by Sumit Jasoria, Vinod Naik, Shivam Tripathi, and Himanshu Chaudhary, NEWME targets Gen Z consumers with frequent product drops and a technology-led retail model. The company said most early Zip orders were delivered within 30 to 60 minutes, including during peak hours.

The 60-minute delivery option is currently available at no additional cost, though NEWME plans to add a small fee later, along with features such as try-and-buy, two-size deliveries, and free gifts.

5.M-Now

Ecommerce major Myntra has entered the rapid delivery space with M-Now, a service that promises delivery within two hours. After piloting in select Bengaluru pin codes last year, Myntra has expanded M-Now to Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, powered by a network of over 40 dark stores and a mix of in-house and third-party logistics partners.

M-Now builds on Myntra’s existing M-Express initiative, which already fulfils nearly half of its orders within 24–48 hours. The service caters to high-intent, occasion-led purchases, such as last-minute gifting or event wear, where consumers are seeking immediate delivery. Myntra has seen lower return rates for M-Now orders compared to regular fashion purchases, reflecting both the time-sensitive nature of the service and stronger purchase intent, as reported by YourStory.