One8 merges digital pre-booking with physical retail at Yashobhoomi Premiere

In a strategic evolution of experiential retail, the high-performance sportswear brand one8 - co-founded by Virat Kohli and backed by Agilitas Sports - has launched footwear pre-bookings exclusively through the District by Zomato platform. This initiative marks a departure from traditional e-commerce drops, functioning as an integrated gateway to the brand’s global premiere scheduled for June 21, 2026, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. By linking online acquisition with a physical, immersive launch event, the brand is targeting a hybrid consumer segment that prioritizes exclusivity and brand connectivity over mere transactional convenience.

Engineering the future of experiential commerce

The collaboration underscores a shift in how lifestyle brands engage with India’s rapidly maturing consumer base. Rather than relying solely on wide-reach digital distribution, one8 is utilizing District to cultivate a community-centric launch. The collection features two cricket-inspired franchises, Seam and Cover Drive, alongside the Boom Rush trainer designed for multi-activity workouts. According to Abhishek Ganguly, Co-Founder and CEO, Agilitas Sports, the overwhelming initial response reflects a profound consumer shift toward domestic brands with global manufacturing aspirations. By transforming a product reveal into a destination event, the brand is effectively bypassing traditional retail friction, turning the act of collection into a cultural milestone.

Scaling through vertical integration

This rollout is a cornerstone of Agilitas Sports’ broader ambition to establish a comprehensive ‘full-stack’ sportswear ecosystem. Following recent capital infusions to bolster R&D and manufacturing capacity, the company is focusing on solving the localized production challenges that have historically hindered Indian sportswear companies. By controlling the value chain—from product design and development involving Kohli himself to proprietary distribution channels - one8 is positioning itself to compete directly with global incumbents. The strategy prioritizes sustainable growth over indiscriminate store expansion, leveraging data-backed insights to ensure that both product performance and retail interactions align with the expectations of the modern, performance-oriented athlete.

Crafting performance

One8 is a high-performance lifestyle brand co-founded by cricketer Virat Kohli. It spans categories including sportswear, footwear, and innerwear. Backed by Agilitas Sports, the brand focuses on premium quality and innovation. With a robust retail strategy, it targets fitness-conscious consumers and aims to scale globally through integrated manufacturing.