Combat Gent raises $1.84M for high-end men's fashion

Specializing in suits, shirts, and ties, the company is also adding a new line of Italian shirts

You always hear that old saying “fake it till you make it.” It means if you want to make the big bucks some day, you have to dress like you eat aged prime rib and lobster for dinner every night. That’s hard to do when you’re actually eating toast for dinner every night and your wardrobe consists of various hoodie-and-jeans combos.

For the man who wants to dress well without breaking the bank, there’s Combat Gent. The company announced Wednesday that it has raised $1.84 million in seed funding from the VegasTechFund, MHS Capital, Greycroft Partners, Naxuri Capital, Blazer Ventures, and Jake Bornstein of Flint and Tinder. Combat Gent also added the Berlin-based Point Nine Capital to its list of investors as a first-step toward expanding into the European market.

"Combat Gent has demonstrated the ability to combine the seemingly different worlds of fashion and technology to bring a quality, affordable product to market,” said VegasTechFund partner Will Young, in a statement. “The VegasTechFund seeks to invest in companies with great promise and Combat Gent has demonstrated an innovative approach to merge the world of high-fashion design with e-commerce."

Founded by cousins Vishaal and Mo Melwani, Combat Gent was the first startup selected for the new Silicon Valley fashion tech accelerator FT, and is also the first to raise money in the program. FT Accelerator partner Enrico Beltramini will be joining the company as chairman of the board.

A product of the recession, Vishaal and Mo Melwani got the idea for the company when they saw their friends coming out of college and getting started in their professional lives, but struggling to create a professional image. The changing corporate pay structure meant they could no longer get a wardrobe they were proud of without breaking the bank.

Currently, the company offers shirts, suits, and ties, and has plans to offer a denim line in the future. Suits currently have the highest conversion rate at 12%, according to CEO Vishaal Melwani. Combat Gent’s line of suits are made from super 140’s wool and are priced at a competitive $160 per two-piece suit.

With more than 72,000 active members, the site has processed over 20,000 orders and has a return rate of just 4%. The average order size is $175. 

In addition to the new funding, Combat Gent announced a new line of Italian shirts, which will be made with Super 120’s cotton sourced from Andreazza & Castelli and made on vintage looms. The shirts will start at $40.

"I've watched Combat Gent make great strides since their launch and I'm thrilled to work closely with the team as chairman of the board. Combat Gent is making a product that so many can relate to and it has made the company a success thus far—I'm excited to see what this company can accomplish,” said Enrico Beltramini, in a statement.