From Roots to Runway: How Alpmode Is Changing India’s Fashion Game

“Gauri Singh Kapoor built Alpmode to redefine Indian athleisure—combining legacy, performance, and purpose into a premium brand empowering athletes with style, comfort, and confidence.”

On September 3rd, 2025, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Gauri Singh Kapoor, the visionary Founder of Alpmode—India’s emerging premium athleisure brand. In this exclusive interview with Wiseup Media Network, Gauri shares the deeply personal story behind Alpmode’s inception, inspired by her journey as a mother to a budding athlete. We explored how she transformed a personal need into a purpose-driven business, the challenges she faced as a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, and how she’s building a community-first brand rooted in performance, trust, and Indian pride.

Founder Introduction

Gauri Singh Kapoor is the Founder of Alpmode, a premium athleisure brand proudly made in India. 

Pankaj– Hi Mrs. Kapoor, thanks for giving us your precious time and joining this conversation. Let’s start with what inspired you to start your own business, and when you started?

Mrs. Kapoor– We have hundreds of clothes choices for all occasions, but when it comes to sportswear, the same uncomfortable fitting options. I often felt frustrated with the limited sportswear in the market. 

The market had plenty of products that were either stylish but lacked performance or were uncomfortable and durable. 

I wanted something better, a brand that truly understood the needs of athletes and their families.

And that’s where the inspiration for Alpmode came from. It was born out of a personal need with a larger vision, that was to create True Athleisure. 

Although the idea had been with me for years, we officially began shaping Alpmode in 2024, building on our family’s legacy of over 46 years in garment manufacturing. 

With that experience, we were sure that we could craft products that not only matched global standards but also carried the pride of being Made in India.

Alpmode is not just about clothing; it’s about giving athletes, and those who support them, the confidence to perform, endure, and elevate every day.

Pankaj– What challenges you faced as a woman entrepreneur, and how have you overcome them?

Mrs. Kapoor– As a woman entrepreneur, one of the unique challenges I faced was being taken seriously in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated. 

Especially in the sportswear and performance sector.  Many people assumed athleisure was just fashion without actually recognising the technical expertise and innovation it takes to design products that truly perform.

On of that, balancing my role as a mother nurturing a young athlete, while along the way building a premium brand, was another challenge. 

There were times when I was expected to choose one, family or business. But for me, they have gone hand in hand. 

In fact, my role as a parent is what gave birth to Alpmode. 

Instead of trying to prove myself in someone else’s way, I built Alpmode by combining my personal experience as a parent, my entrepreneurial drive, and our family’s legacy in garment manufacturing. 

For me, every barrier became a stepping stone to create something that was not only proudly Made in India, but also globally competitive and aspirational.

Pankaj– Can you share a defining moment in your entrepreneurial journey?

Mrs. Kapoor– One unforgettable moment for me was when I watched my daughter step onto the field wearing the first prototype of Alpmode. 

To anyone else, it might have just looked like a piece of sportswear. But for me, it held months of research, trials and determination. 

After her game, she came back smiling and said, “Mom, this feels so comfortable, I can move so freely, and I love how it looks.”

That simple feedback really meant the world to me.

Hearing that validation from the person who inspired the brand gave me the courage to take Alpmode from a passion project to a premium label.

That moment continues to drive me today. 

Pankaj– How do you maintain a work-life balance while running your business?

Mrs. Kapoor– For me, balance isn’t about dividing time equally, it’s about being fully present wherever I am. 

As a mother and an entrepreneur, both roles demand my best, and instead of seeing them as competing, I try to let them complement each other.

Much of Alpmode’s inspiration actually comes from my personal life. So in a way, my family life feeds into my business, and my business gives me the joy of creating solutions that directly benefit families like mine.

Of course, all this requires discipline. 

 I set clear boundaries and prioritize self-care. 

I’ve learned that if I’m not at my best, both physically and mentally, I can’t give my best to either my family or my brand. 

That’s why self care, fitness, mindfulness, and disciplined routines are crucial  me.

Pankaj– How do you approach networking and building connections in your industry as a woman entrepreneur?

Mrs. Kapoor– For me, networking has never been about collecting business cards, it’s all about building impactful and long-term relationships.

 As a woman entrepreneur, I’ve found that authenticity and trust are my strengths. 

I  don’t walk in a room to blend in,  I walk in with the confidence of my vision for Alpmode. 

Early on, I realized that the sportswear industry is often dominated by global giants, but being made in India and rooted in real athlete experiences gives me a unique perspective.

I treat every interaction as a chance to learn. Some connections have turned into collaborations, others helped us learn more. 

Networking, to me, isn’t just about growing Alpmode. I see it as connecting with people who share the same belief in True Athleisure and what it stands for.

Pankaj– What strategies have you used and it worked to scale your business?

Mrs. Kapoor–  From day one, I knew that if Alpmode was to grow, it had to be built on trust.

 In a world where brands are often faceless, I made it personal.

 I would pick up the phone myself and call customers after their purchase, not to sell, but to listen. 

Their feedback meant everything to us and mattered a lot. Many of those early customers are still with us today, and that loyalty means everything.

We also looked at scaling differently. Instead of only chasing big distribution, we built a community-first model. 

For example, we partnered with yoga and Zumba instructors, making them our channel partners. They wore Alpmode, shared it with their students, and became natural brand advocates.

I believe these strategies worked because they were never about quick wins. They were about relationships.

Authentic relationships are the strongest growth engines. 

Pankaj– Can you share a memorable success story or milestone from your entrepreneurial journey?

Mrs. Kapoor– Two moments stand out for me in my journey with Alpmode.

The first was when we received the Emerging Consumer Choice recognition from Mid Day. 

For a young brand, it was a big validation that our vision of creating True Athleisure: premium, technical yet stylish gear, proudly made in India, was connecting not just with athletes, but also with the larger industry.

But the milestone that touched me most was a very personal one. 

A mother once called me after her daughter wore our double-layer tennis skirt during a match. She said, “For the first time, my daughter felt confident and unstoppable on the court.”

 That one call reminded me why Alpmode exists. 

Pankaj- What role do you believe mentorship plays in the success of women entrepreneurs?

Mrs. Kapoor– I believe mentorship is one of the most powerful accelerators for women entrepreneurs.

Building a business can feel lonely at times, and having mentors who’ve already walked the path can save you years of trial and error.

For me, being selected in the D2CX Cohort 5 by Inc42 Media was a turning point. 

It gave me the chance to learn directly from some of the best minds in the industry. 

Their guidance helped me refine Alpmode’s strategy, sharpen our positioning as a premium True Athleisure brand made in India. 

Mentorship gave me something less visible yet equally powerful i.e, confidence. When seasoned entrepreneurs believe in your vision, it gives you the courage to push boundaries, take risks, and keep moving forward even when the road gets tough.

That’s why I always encourage women entrepreneurs to seek out mentors. 

Pankaj– How do you stay resilient in the face of setbacks or failures?

Mrs. Kapoor– For me, resilience begins with remembering why I started Alpmode. This brand was born for athletes. Whenever I hit a roadblock, I go back to that purpose, and it gives me the strength to keep going.

I’ve learned to see failures not as endings, but as feedback.

On the hardest days, I lean on three anchors: discipline, community, and belief. Discipline keeps me consistent, our community reminds me of the impact we’re making, and belief in myself, my team, and in Alpmode’s mission keeps me grounded.

To me, resilience isn’t about never falling. It’s about rising stronger every time. And that’s exactly the spirit I want Alpmode to represent for every athlete who chooses us.

Pankaj– How do you prioritize sustainability and social responsibility within your business model?

Mrs. Kapoor– At Alpmode, we believe true performance isn’t just about how our products feel on the body, it’s also about the impact they leave behind.

From the very start, we built sustainability and social responsibility into our main goal. 

On the product side, we focus on durable, high-quality fabrics and precision manufacturing.

We also keep production proudly Made in India, which not only lowers our carbon footprint but also strengthens local supply chains and creates employment opportunities.

Social responsibility is equally important. With over 46 years of garment-making legacy, we’ve always placed ethical manufacturing at the core by ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and respecting the people behind every stitch. 

We also believe in empowering societies. For example, by partnering with yoga and Zumba instructors as channel partners, we give fitness leaders opportunities to grow with us, rather than just selling to them.

For us, sustainability isn’t just in our checkbox, but it’s a long-term commitment to ensuring that every athlete wearing Alpmode can feel proudof the values they’re wearing.

Pankaj- In your opinion, what changes are still needed to create a more supportive environment for women in entrepreneurship?

Mrs. Kapoor– I think what women entrepreneurs really need is more real access in genuine trust, funding, and opportunities. Too often, we’re celebrated but not fully supported.

Another big change is visibility. When young women see other women building businesses, raising funds, and leading industries, it tells them, “This path is possible for you too.”

And above all, mentorship. Having someone who’s walked the same journey can save you years of trial and error. 

If we can build a culture where women support and lift each other, entrepreneurship will feel a lot less lonely and a lot more powerful.

Pankaj- What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

Trust your voice and just start, even if it feels imperfect. Build authentic relationships with your customers, seek mentors who can guide you, and never underestimate yourself and the power of resilience.

Setbacks will come, but if you stay rooted in your purpose, you won’t just build a business; you’ll surely build a legacy.