I'm Anitha Balakrishnan, a Textile Designer with 5+ years of experience in trend forecasting, textile print development, surface design, and fashion graphics across apparel and lifestyle categories. I translate market research and cultural insights into commercially relevant collections through concept development, CAD, and print design. I'm particularly drawn to contemporary Indian aesthetics, craft-inspired storytelling, and collaborative design processes. I enjoy working with artisans and cross-functional teams to translate traditional craft techniques into contemporary collections, and I explore wellness-driven, comfortable design for the modern workwear and leisure markets.

Anitha Bala Krishnan

I'm Anitha Balakrishnan, a Textile Designer with 5+ years of experience in trend forecasting, textile print development, surface design, and fashion graphics across apparel and lifestyle categories. I translate market research and cultural insights into commercially relevant collections through concept development, CAD, and print design. I'm particularly drawn to contemporary Indian aesthetics, craft-inspired storytelling, and collaborative design processes. I enjoy working with artisans and cross-functional teams to translate traditional craft techniques into contemporary collections, and I explore wellness-driven, comfortable design for the modern workwear and leisure markets.

Available to hire

I’m Anitha Balakrishnan, a Textile Designer with 5+ years of experience in trend forecasting, textile print development, surface design, and fashion graphics across apparel and lifestyle categories. I translate market research and cultural insights into commercially relevant collections through concept development, CAD, and print design.

I’m particularly drawn to contemporary Indian aesthetics, craft-inspired storytelling, and collaborative design processes. I enjoy working with artisans and cross-functional teams to translate traditional craft techniques into contemporary collections, and I explore wellness-driven, comfortable design for the modern workwear and leisure markets.

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Language

English
Fluent
Hindi
Fluent
Tamil
Intermediate
Malayalam
Fluent

Work Experience

Design and Research at ICH Creative Consulting pvt ltd
August 1, 2023 - Present
• 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.
Fashion Graphics at Shalini James Mantra
October 5, 2021 - December 31, 2022
• 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.
Design Researcher at Kairali Exports-AyurVastra
January 4, 2021 - July 31, 2021
• 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.
Textile Design Intern & Social Media Strategist at Biome Conscious Fashion
November 1, 2020 - December 1, 2020
Internship focused on sustainable design practices; contributed to the Finding Walden collection; researched Indian textiles and consumer insights; created CADs and production-ready concepts; led the #DressingChangeMakers digital campaign with visuals and brand communication assets.

Education

Bachelor of Design: Textile Design at National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2021
Class 12 at Chinmaya Vidyalaya
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2017
Class 10 at Chinmaya Vidyalaya
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2015

Qualifications

NIFT Merit Scholarship/Award for Academic Excellence
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2021

Industry Experience

Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Retail, Professional Services, Education, Other