Dhruv Toshniwal, co-founder and chief executive of Indian menswear brand The Pant Project, is building a business around a familiar problem: finding trousers that fit properly.
Meet Dhruv Toshniwal
Dhruv Toshniwal comes from a family with a long-standing connection to the textile industry. His family's business background includes Banswara Syntex, a textile manufacturer established in 1976 by his grandfather.
He founded this company with his brother Udit Toshniwal in 2020, the company has grown from an online specialist in well-fitting trousers into a premium clothing label.
Its latest milestone is a ₹109 crore funding round announced in October 2026, which will support an ambitious expansion of its physical stores and product range.
Toshniwal brought a business-focused approach to the venture, while his brother Udit, the company's co-founder and creative director, contributed design expertise. The two identified an everyday frustration that many customers would recognise: trousers could be too tight, too loose or simply uncomfortable, even when the size appeared correct.
The Pant Project was their attempt to address that gap. According to the company's official website, the founders combined their textile experience with technology and a focus on Indian body types to develop better-fitting clothing.
What is The Pant Project all about?
The company began in 2020 as a digital-first brand selling custom-sized trousers. It later expanded into ready-to-wear clothing and adopted an omnichannel approach, combining online sales with physical stores.
Its range now extends beyond formal trousers to chinos, jeans, cargos, joggers and other styles, with options for both men and women. The company also highlights fabric performance, stretch, comfort and fit as key features of its products.
The idea is straightforward: make trousers that work for different body shapes without requiring customers to compromise on comfort or appearance.
In June 2024, The Pant Project raised $4.25 million (about ₹35 crore at the time) in its first institutional funding round, led by Sorin Investments. The company said the money would support retail expansion, technology, marketing and team growth.
The Pant Project raises ₹109 crore
The company has now secured ₹109 crore in a Series A funding round led by Mirae Asset Venture Investments, which was confirmed by Dhruv Toshniwal in a recent interview with CNBC-TV18, which reported the development on 19 October 2026.
Existing investor Sorin Investments also participated, alongside family offices and angel investors. The company has additionally secured venture debt from Alteria Capital.
The fresh capital will help The Pant Project expand from 25 exclusive stores to more than 150 over the next two to three years. It also plans to enter adjacent categories, including athleisure and casualwear, while investing in technology to connect its online and offline operations.
What lies ahead for the brand?
The funding marks a shift in the company's growth strategy. Having established itself online, The Pant Project is looking to reach customers through a much wider physical retail network.
For Toshniwal, the next challenge is to translate that expansion into sustained growth while retaining the product focus that shaped the business.
The company is entering a competitive premium menswear market, where established labels and newer direct-to-consumer brands are competing for customers.