Pakistani fashion marketplace startup Mezaaj raises seed funding

Fashion startup Mezaaj today announced it has raised an undisclosed amount of seed capital from private investor Arshad Latif. The startup is valued at US$500,000 following the investment round.

Mezaaj is a platform for fashion and textile design students to showcase their work on a global stage. The startup works with local universities to source emerging talent and offers them a three-month incubation program. During incubation, the students are mentored by business and fashion executives. There are also opportunities to partner with large retail outlets in an effort to showcase designs and stock products in cities across Pakistan.

At the end of the incubation cycle, all approved designs are sent into production. Mezaaj then lists the items on their portal, and invests in online marketing channels to promote the emerging artists. All paid channels are used, including Facebook, Google, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. The startup manages logistics and deliveries, and ships orders worldwide.

“We want to be a beacon of hope for upcoming talent who don’t have any exposure in international markets,” Ahmed Izhar CEO of Mezaaj tells Tech in Asia. “Mentors meet designers at least once a week and work with them closely to ensure viability and success.”

The startup is currently incubated at Lahore-based Plan9. It plans on using the cash to aggressively market its services and spread the incubation program to different parts of the country. The investor, Arshad Latif, will also work as a strategic partner in the venture, and help chart the future growth strategy of the company.