Interview with Vedant Bang, Director of Thomas Scott (India) Limited

An Exclusive interview with Vedant Bang, Director of Thomas Scott (India) Limited

Vedant Bang, a dynamic and visionary leader, spearheads the transformation of menswear fashion in India through his role as the Director at Thomas Scott India Limited. Rooted in a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence, Vedant’s journey unfolds as a remarkable narrative of achievements and industry-shaping contributions.

With an educational background that spans multiple disciplines, Vedant is a Fellow Actuary from the renowned Institute of Actuaries in the UK. Complemented by a CFA Charterholder designation from the CFA Institute, USA, and being a Chartered Accountant, his diverse expertise merges quantitative prowess with creative insight, setting the stage for a pioneering career.

Vedant’s professional trajectory saw him excel at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP before joining Thomas Scott India Limited. As a management consultant, he navigated the complex terrains of global investment banks, including Nomura, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, SBI, and HDFC Bank.

Here, he masterfully designed models for forecasting, risk management, and pricing – a skill set now seamlessly interwoven with his foray into the fashion arena.

His perspective on the menswear fashion industry is both wise and revolutionary. With Thomas Scott, Vedant identifies two fundamental pillars: timeless core products and dynamic trends.

He crafts the former with an unwavering commitment to superior quality, value for money, and impeccable fits. For the latter, his vision is to stay ahead of the curve while transcending budget constraints, making cutting-edge fashion accessible to all.

Looking ahead, Vedant envisions Thomas Scott becoming the definitive choice in every Indian man’s wardrobe over the next decade. His goal is to position the brand as an essential companion for daily wear and special occasions alike, creating a lasting impact on the fashion landscape.

Beyond his role, Vedant’s passion for exploration and cultural immersion shines through. A dedicated traveler, he seeks authenticity by experiencing diverse cultures, often finding solace in rural India or uncharted global territories.

Can you provide an overview of Thomas Scott India and its brand philosophy? What sets your brand apart in the competitive menswear fashion industry?

Vedant Bang: Premium and high-quality men’s fashion designed for the modern man– Thats Thomas Scott India. From everyday basics to special occasions, our focus is on smart casuals to cater to today’s youth while staying true to our brands legacy of comfort and quality.

Thomas Scott India Limited, founded in 2012 emerged from Bang Overseas Limited. Although it has been around since the early 2000’s with 200 stores across India, we re-launched the brand as an online-first brand, to cater to the millennials and Gen-Z’s.

We have an in-house manufacturing set-up that offers a direct to consumer experience, While still delivering quality garments without the middleman– all at affordable prices. Which is what sets us apart in the competitive men’s fashion industry.

We also manufacture for top international brands such as Balmain, Hackett, Hugo Boss, Aeropostale and Nautica.

Fashion trends are constantly evolving. How does Thomas Scott India stay ahead of the curve in terms of design and style while maintaining its brand identity?

Vedant Bang: Our inspiration comes from various sources, channelled into our unique collections. Each collection caters to specific trends and customer demands. Some of which are: :

“Tokyo Today” draws inspiration from Japanese casualwear.

“All Day Basics” covers must-have wardrobe items.

“All Season Checks” offers high-quality checks for any occasion.

“Cricket Club” is inspired by our nation’s love for sports.

“Fine Irish Linen” showcases imported linen.

“All Over Prints” lets customers express themselves with trendy prints.

“Plus Size” is our size-inclusive range.

Could you share the inspiration behind the name “Thomas Scott” and how it reflects the brand’s vision?

Vedant Bang: The name “Thomas Scott” has a history rooted in the fabric trading era of Bang Overseas. Originally adopted when the parent company held the licence for Thomas Pink in India. When Thomas Pink was acquired by LVMH, our company chose the name “Thomas Scott” to continue business with minimal impact.

Quality is a hallmark of premium brands. How does Thomas Scott India ensure the quality of its products, from materials to craftsmanship?

Vedant Bang: Quality is at our core. As mentioned before, we have a history of manufacturing for brands like Balmain Paris and Hackett London, using the same factories. Needless to say, our commitment to quality control remains unwavering.

How do you balance the traditional aspects of menswear fashion with the demand for innovation and contemporary styles in your collections?

Vedant Bang: We offer timeless classics and trend-driven pieces. The core products provide the best quality and value for money, while trend items capture the latest styles at accessible prices.

Retail and e-commerce are evolving rapidly. How has Thomas Scott India adapted to changing consumer preferences and the digital shopping landscape?

Vedant Bang: Thomas Scott has just started its new innings and I have chosen it to be digital first with strong online customer experience. We realise that just having high quality products is not sufficient, it is also key to provide good service such as speedy delivery and after sales support.

For which we have distributed inventory set up across India (Warehouses in Mumbai, Bangalore, Gurgaon and Kolkata) and use Air Delivery for all orders so that customers receive products next day or latest in 2 days.

Customization and personalization are trends in luxury fashion. Does Thomas Scott India offer any bespoke or made-to-measure services for its clients?

Vedant Bang: Unfortunately, we do not provide such services at the moment. Instead our range is extensive and generally meets most of our customers requirements.
We understand that our customers have a range of personality traits , for which we have a variety of collections that are attractive to them.

What are some of the key challenges you face in the menswear fashion market, and how do you overcome them to maintain growth and relevance?

Vedant Bang: We face the challenge of catering to diverse preferences across generations like Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Each group has distinct tastes in fabric, fit, and style. To stay relevant and grow, we avoid pigeonholing ourselves into one generation. Thomas Scott addresses this by offering a broad range of collections that appeal to a range of age groups.

What are your success tips for young and aspiring entrepreneurs?

Vedant Bang: I have a board in my office cabin with a photo of Michael Jordan (one of the most inspiring personalities of all time) that I read as my Mantra which says “Focus on progress, not perfection.” This would be my primary tip to all young and aspiring entrepreneurs.

It is also worth noting the subtext to the above mantra, a quote by Michael Jordan:

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

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