The South Asian ethnic wear market is projected to reach $129 billion in global revenues by 2030, with digital spending accounting for nearly $46 billion of this growth. In line with this trend, fashion marketplace LAAM has announced a $5.5 million funding round to further its mission of bringing South Asian fashion to a global audience.
LAAM has established itself as a leading platform for South Asian fashion, offering a curated selection of over 100,000 items from more than 1,000 brands. The seed funding round was led by Zayn VC and Disrupt, with participation from Graph Ventures, Mentors Fund, and tech leaders from companies such as Oracle, Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce.
With this new funding, LAAM plans to enhance its efforts to highlight the region’s finest artisans and showcase diverse ethnic fashion products on a global stage. The platform already boasts sales in over 100 countries, with its top markets including the US, Canada, the UK, and the Middle East. LAAM’s growing international presence underscores its strong connection with fashion enthusiasts worldwide.
“LAAM’s ability to elevate South Asian fashion onto the global stage while empowering local artisans and sellers is commendable. We believe LAAM has a unique opportunity to transform how South Asian fashion is perceived and accessed globally. We’re proud to support their journey,” said Faisal Aftab, Managing Partner at Zayn VC.
LAAM has developed a robust e-commerce infrastructure, including supply chain solutions, seller business management software, and warehousing capabilities. Beyond its marketplace, LAAM Technologies offers this proprietary technology and infrastructure through a platform called Octane, which helps businesses establish an online presence and expand globally. Currently supporting over 50 businesses, Octane aligns with LAAM’s mission to empower South Asian sellers and is poised for significant growth in the coming year.
Through its efforts, LAAM empowers small and medium-sized sellers in Pakistan to access international markets, making South Asian fashion more accessible while celebrating its rich heritage. “At LAAM, we bring the best of South Asian fashion to the world,” said Arif Iqbal, CEO of LAAM Technologies. “We’re combining cutting-edge tech with the timeless appeal of South Asian craftsmanship, creating a seamless connection between global consumers and authentic ethnic fashion. This funding empowers us to scale our platform, enhance our AI-driven discovery and logistics capabilities, and continue empowering local sellers to thrive in the digital age.”
The success of LAAM is deeply rooted in its exceptional founding and leadership team, which combines global tech expertise with an intimate understanding of the South Asian fashion ecosystem. Arif Iqbal, LAAM’s CEO, has a rich career spanning roles at Meta, Pinterest, and Microsoft, where he honed his skills in scaling products globally. Ahmed Muneeb, the company’s CTO, brings extensive experience from Oracle and Microsoft, driving technological excellence. Bilal Khokhar, who leads product development, previously managed multiple product areas at Amazon, showcasing his deep expertise in building scalable enterprise solutions.
On the fashion front, Amir Iqbal and Sahar Arif bring more than two decades of experience, leveraging their deep knowledge of the South Asian fashion landscape to empower artisans and brands globally. This combination of tech prowess and fashion expertise uniquely positions LAAM to transform how South Asian fashion reaches global audiences.
Aaqib Gadit, Founding Partner at Disrupt.com, expressed excitement about the opportunity LAAM aims to unlock. “Their exceptional team, robust technology stack, and focus on customer obsession will propel them to new heights. We’re proud to be part of their journey and look forward to supporting them as they scale South Asian fashion globally.”
From millions of customers worldwide to the families and communities behind the fashion, LAAM is a platform for impact, connecting the world to South Asian craftsmanship and creating opportunities for sellers while preserving cultural heritage.
