The Loot
Let's redefine Indian circular fashion!
Team involved
Laura de la Calle
Producer
Irene Utrilla
Lead Product Designer
Pablo Funcia
Product Designer
Jimena Camarero
React Native Developer
Fran Portillo
Devops Engineer
Jesús Chacón
Team Lead & Back-end Developer
Daniela Witteveen
Front-end Developer
Ana Menacho
Team Lead & Front-end Developer
Inés García
Front-end Developer
RECOGNITIONS
Summary
The Loot is the first marketplace specifically designed for buying and selling second-hand South Asian clothing in the US. More than just a Vinted for these traditional garments, this innovative app offers the South Asian community a platform to give a second life to their colorful lehengas, saris, and sherwanis, all while promoting circular economy principles and sustainability.
An ecologist community for buying and selling South Asian fashion
The Loot was born from a common dilemma: What do we do with our beautifully crafted South Asian clothing when we no longer wear it? Longtime friends Sagar Patel and Sheeba Aggarwal noticed how many people turned to Facebook groups to buy and sell these garments but found the process tedious and inefficient.
We wanted to create a place where our community could gather, buy, and sell effortlessly. The Loot is our way of contributing to a more sustainable future.”
Sagar Patel
Co-Founder of The Loot
The market for Indian wedding dresses in the United States has seen remarkable growth, driven by the increasing popularity of Indian weddings in the country. Fueled by their shared love for fashion and entrepreneurial spirit, they created The Loot, a marketplace that simplifies and modernizes the exchange of traditional clothing. Fittingly, the word "loot" is actually one of the very first Indian words to sneak its way into the English language. It's the Indian slang for "raid" - like raiding your sibling's closet. That's the vibe the founders were going for.
This project connects the South Asian community in a safe, intuitive space where every outfit you no longer want to repeat at events gets a second chance. As the founders say: “looking good shouldn't come at the expense of our planet.”
Embracing tradition with a modern touch
The Loot’s design focuses on capturing the luxury and luxury of South Asian fashion while maintaining a clean, functional interface. Z1 worked closely with the founders to craft a modern look and feel, drawing inspiration from traditional patterns and textures but adapting them for the digital age. Regarding the logo, Pablo Funcia, leading the branding efforts, encapsulated the style of this type of attire in a symbol that evokes infinity and circular economy and the interaction between buyer and seller.
The result: an app that blends movement and visual richness to showcase the beauty of every garment. Subtle patterns, neutral tones, and thoughtful design elements make the product the true star of the experience.
It was a challenging project, but we loved working with a team so passionate about their vision.
Irene Utrilla
Lead Product Designer
The crossing strokes allude to the interweaving in a piece of textile
A reference to the infinity symbol and the idea of sustainability
The two rounded shapes allude to the interaction between buyer and seller
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We wanted to highlight the richness of South Asian culture, embracing its heritage through beautiful patterns and textures, while giving it a touch of modernity, simplicity, and digital context.”
Pablo Funcia
Product Designer
Overcoming technical challenges to ensure a flawless experience
From the start, the founders were clear about their priorities for the app: simplicity and functionality. This included advanced filters meticulously refined during development, a feature to spotlight curated garments selected by The Loot team, and detailed notifications for both buyers and sellers.
Z1 developed the app using React Native, optimizing its performance for both iOS and Android. One of the most significant challenges was integrating high-quality videos that captured the flow and movement of the garments without compromising the user experience.
An iterative agile process allowed us to develop a complex app while ensuring optimal performance, despite the high level of detail in every feature.”
Jesús Chacón
Lead Backend Developer
The success of sustainable fashion for a new generation
Since its launch, The Loot has captured the attention of the South Asian community in the United States, revolutionizing how they buy and sell traditional clothing. With its intuitive functionality and focus on sustainability, the app is setting a new standard in the second-hand marketplace. Glowing reviews, five-star ratings in app stores, and thousands of social media followers testify to its triumph.
The Loot is more than just an app: it's a movement that redefines how we view fashion and the impact we can make by choosing second-hand.”
Sheeba Aggarwal
Co-Founder of The Loot
Rating: 5 out of 5
viddyg, 11/24/2023
A much needed app!
This company is filling a niche that is much needed. I have always wondered what to do with my Indian clothes that are out of season. This application provides a place to sell, recycle, and reuse beautiful clothes that often are thrown away after 1 wear. Glad to have found this app!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
chocoholic125, 11/13/2023
Much needed app for south Asian clothing!
Very easy to maneuver, seamless process to sell and buy!