Sometimes, a business idea doesn’t come from boardrooms or spreadsheets. Sometimes, it starts from a feeling, a moment that stays with you and refuses to go away. That’s exactly how Comet, one of India’s freshest homegrown sneaker brands, came to life. For Utkarsh Gupta, the spark began somewhere far from home, in Chicago, while he was doing his master’s. It wasn’t just about living in a new city. It was about seeing something up close, the way people connected with sneakers in a deep, personal way.
“Sneakers weren’t just shoes there,” Utkarsh says. “They were art, they were stories, they were identity.” Coming back to India, he felt the gap instantly. While the fashion scene was buzzing with cool new streetwear brands like Almost Gods, Jaywalking, and Bluorng, the sneaker market felt quiet. Plain. Functional. Lacking soul. That’s when Utkarsh, along with co-founder Dishant, decided to build something different. Not just another sneaker label, but a brand that would speak the language of the new Indian generation, bold, creative, and unapologetically original. Sneakers with a story Comet didn’t just want to design sneakers.
They wanted to tell stories through them. One of their most popular drops, “Extra Toppings Only”, is a great example. On the surface, it’s an ice-cream inspired sneaker. But at its heart, it’s about nostalgia, joy, and the playful memories of childhood. “We thought, what if a sneaker could remind you of those carefree days?” Utkarsh explains. This is how Comet approaches design, by looking around, absorbing culture, and turning everyday moments into something meaningful and fun. But they don’t stop at just good looks. Comfort and function matter just as much.
The team invests heavily in the technical side, from cushioned midsoles to sturdy uppers, making sure the shoes feel as good as they look. Utkarsh’s path to Comet wasn’t direct, but every step added something valuable. He worked at Bain, where he learned how to think long-term and build for scale. At Hotstar, he picked up the speed and hustle of startup life. And his time at Kellogg sharpened his sense of branding and consumer psychology. “Those years taught me to zoom in when needed, and zoom out when required,” he says. It’s that mix of big-picture thinking and love for details that now shapes how he runs Comet. From day one, Comet wasn’t about hype or celebrity collabs.
Utkarsh and Dishant had a bigger vision, to build a creative culture around sneakers in India. They’ve done this by partnering with underground artists, hosting culture-first pop-ups, and creating spaces that go beyond just shopping. Their event in Delhi for “Extra Toppings Only” was a hit, not just for the shoes, but for the energy, the crowd, the vibe. “We wanted people to feel like they’re part of something, not just buying a product,” Utkarsh shares. This kind of genuine connection is what sets Comet apart. They don’t just talk to their community, they listen. And that feedback loop is now one of their strongest tools for growth.
Winning over Gen Z Building a brand for Gen Z isn’t easy
They’re sharp, fast, and don’t fall for anything fake. Utkarsh knows this well, and that’s why authenticity is a non-negotiable at Comet. Everything from their design process to their Instagram feed is built to reflect who they are, open, fun, and transparent. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes videos or early sketches, they let their audience in on the journey. They’ve also kept their retail experience fresh, launching limited-edition drops, making every release feel special. And as they grow, Comet is expanding into offline stores too, not just to sell more, but to offer immersive experiences that bring their creative world to life.
Building from scratch isn’t easy
Of course, the journey hasn’t been all smooth. Designing sneakers in India, from the ground up, turned out to be a challenge no one had fully prepared them for. The ecosystem just wasn’t ready. Factories needed training, testing took time, and finding the right partners required a lot of trial and error. “We had to figure out everything ourselves,” Utkarsh says. “But we were okay with that. We wanted to do it our way.” Even building trust was hard at first. Competing against global sneaker giants is no joke. But Comet chose a different route,transparency. They showed how their products were made, who was making them, and why it mattered. And slowly, people started paying attention.
So, what’s next?
When asked if he’s building a sneaker brand or a cultural movement, Utkarsh doesn’t hesitate. “We want to build the best sneaker brand this country has ever seen.” And if Comet’s journey so far is anything to go by, they’re well on their way.
