Anitha Bala Krishnan

• Conduct trend forecasting and 360° cross-industry research across fashion, beauty, science, technology, politics, space, culture, home, and lifestyle sectors to identify emerging consumer shifts and market directions. • Analyse evolving Indian consumer sentiment, behavioral patterns, cultural influences, and lifestyle movements to develop market-relevant seasonal trend narratives. • Research and forecast seasonal directions for Menswear and Womenswear across SS & FW seasons, focusing on colour, fabric, pattern, silhouette, detailing and material direction. • Develop research-driven forecasting reports tailored to the Indian fashion and retail market, translating global and cultural movements into commercially relevant insights for brands and designers. • Curate seasonal trend stories, moodboards, visual narratives, colour palettes, concept presentations, and consumer insight reports for publication and client access. • Collaborate with creative and research teams to build comprehensive forecasting frameworks supporting apparel, textile, and lifestyle product development. • Monitor macro and micro cultural shifts, digital behaviour, retail movements, emerging aesthetics, and socio-cultural trends to identify future market opportunities. • Contribute to the development of subscription-based trend intelligence reports and forecasting publications for fashion and retail clients. • Contributed to “The Makers’ Trail” design curation presented during Bengaluru Hubba, exploring the intersection of Generative AI, craft, textile heritage, and future-focused design narratives in collaboration with Tharangini Studio.

• Designed and developed the AW22/23 “Finding Walden” collection, alongside the SS23 “Mission Malabar” Kerala Handloom collection and the contemporary “Coromandel” Kalamkari collection. • “Finding Walden” collection was featured in the April 2023 edition of Indulge magazine by The New Indian Express. • Conducted extensive research on Indian textiles, crafts, and surface techniques including Ajrakh, Kalamkari, Bandhani, Jamdani, Dabu, Bhujodi, Sanganeri, Bagh, Mangalagiri, Kerala Handloom, and South Cotton. • Explored seasonal trend forecasts, consumer insights, market research, and colour directions to develop trend-led collections aligned with brand aesthetics and market relevance. • Developed textile concepts, print stories, colour palettes, fabric explorations, and collection moodboards based on design briefs. • Collaborated closely with artisans, weavers, block printers, clusters, and manufacturers to develop contemporary interpretations of traditional crafts while supporting craft revival initiatives. • Curated colour swatches through sample dyeing, fabric development, and surface experimentation for collection execution. • Prepared CADs, technical specification sheets, production order sheets, and design presentations for internal teams and production partners. • Coordinated with clusters, vendors, and dealers for sampling, production follow-ups, and order execution. • Managed textile sampling, quality checks, and pre-production approvals to ensure design and material consistency. • Designed trims, branded accessories, labels, and supporting visual elements for collections. • Contributed to visual merchandising, campaign coordination, collection shoots, website graphics, social media creatives, and the Mantra rebranding initiative.

• Developed two research-driven apparel collections - Women’s Sleepwear and Work-Leisure - as part of the graduation project in collaboration with an Ayurveda Herbal Farm and Research Centre, responding to evolving work-from-home lifestyle shifts. • Conducted consumer and lifestyle research focused on comfort-driven apparel, wellness-oriented living, and changing post-pandemic behavioural patterns influencing the WFH market. • Explored material direction, colour palettes, silhouette development, and functional design approaches aligned with the concept of Ayurvastra and holistic wellbeing. • Created concept boards, textile explorations, collection narratives, and final design developments integrating wellness, comfort, and contemporary lifestyle aesthetics.