MAM
Meet Anuradha and Kanika, empowering Indian apparel manufacturers with research and fashion forecasting
In the current era of fast fashion and intense competition, fashion manufacturing has become increasingly complex, underscoring the critical importance of staying attuned to consumer preferences. Relying solely on trial and error is no longer adequate, as it often results in unsold inventory relegated to sale sections or worse, disposed of as waste. Such outcomes can lead to significant losses, particularly in an industry where production costs are frequently high. Even more so, given the rapid shifts in consumer interests within the fashion landscape, it is essential to remain abreast of future trends to strategically plan collections. India has a unique dominance and expression in fashion that ranges from traditional ethnic dressing to its very own coined ‘fusion wear’, together referred to as Indian wear. Two friends and deeply experienced professional, Anuradha Chandrashekar and Kanika Vohra are working towards changing the whole ecosystem as they have founded India’s first Indian wear fashion forecast, ICH NEXT.
Anuradha Chandrashekar explains why fashion forecasting is a necessity in today’s time for the fashion industry, “Adopting a fashion forecast prior to new collection development is a global best practice for decades. Before starting we studied innumerable case studies that went on to show that on-trend designs that are fresh and relevant to consumer affinities were often lacking. Prior research, if conducted, often focused solely on macro influences within the fashion world, lacking nuanced interpretation and relying heavily on a ‘more of the same’ approach. True insight into trends necessitates thorough exploration of diverse factors such as consumer behavior, celebrity influence, runway trends, social media, travel, experiential changes, and even political ideologies shaping consumer preferences. This is what ICH NEXT focuses on – a comprehensive research that is the backbone to the science behind predictive trend reports, to aid and abet manufacturers in their creation process. These trend reports are provided to manufacturers at least 6-9 months prior to the clothing range hitting retail shelves, enabling them to tailor their collections accordingly. Manufacturers leveraging such forecasts have witnessed up to a sevenfold increase in revenue.”
To make the manufacturers aware of the many benefits of fashion forecasting ICH NEXT launched their series of pan India Masterclasses for fashion manufacturers. “Through these Masterclasses we intend to share our learnings and insights with the manufacturers of fashion apparel and make them understand the importance of research and relying on a fashion forecast, whichever that might be. When they base their product development process on research, their collection will hit the mark, minimizing wasteful manufacturing and discounts that eat up the manufacturer’s profits. Helping them stay a step ahead and tap the pulse of the consumers beforehand, ICH NEXT helps manufacturers to alleviate lost opportunities. In this stead, the first leg of the Masterclass was held at Jaipur this month where Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and the Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan (GEAR) participated wholeheartedly along with 50 manufacturers. While this was the first step, we will be reaching out to more manufacturers across the country with such knowledge share sessions,” said Kanika Vohra.
Kanika further spoke about the impact of deep research by ICH on future trends and the future of the company, “A lot of the success that ICH has met with, has been basis the research and having a keen eye in understanding consumer preferences and dialogues. In building a base for business success, businesses rely on prudent practices and leveraging strength. We believe research can be a firm pillar and we can be the company that provides that foundation. We see it as a ‘collaborative effort’ with ICH NEXT enabling deep insights, predicting future trends that carry a high degree of consumer affinity; and manufacturers focusing their creative energies in interpretation, expansion and quality improvements. Over the next five years, we want to hone our work and make our research deeper and more customizable across segments encouraging relevant design thought and fresh thinking. We are investing in tech / AI to help empower this across segments of fashion and lifestyle.”
Anuradha goes on to explain how their “Maya theme” that they predicted last year for this season of SS24 is all over the fashion industry. As per them, in summer 2024, Citrus Lime and Menthol Blue are expected to rule the apparel racks. In India, consumers seek out colors that exude optimism, harmony, tradition, and innovation. Colors like herbal pink and tea, salt-lake peach, and mint marble blue with grey are set to join the color palette, dyed in ethereally light fabrics, stiff shears and metallic shimmers.
The essence of Summer 2024 encapsulates themes of romance and surrender, blending elements from the past, present, and future while surrendering to the fragility of the present moment. Brands seize upon these trends by offering the right choices at the opportune time. However, achieving this feat necessitates a foundation of thorough research and forecasting to inform the creation of new lines.
Brands
Yes Madam taps Rajpal Yadav’s Chota Don nostalgia to power new digital campaign
Home salon platform ropes in Tanya Mittal as it bets on humour and pop culture to showcase trust and convenience
NOIDA: India’s fast-growing home salon platform Yes Madam is leaning on nostalgia and a dose of comic chaos to pitch its services. The brand has launched a new digital campaign starring Rajpal Yadav and influencer Tanya Mittal, reviving Yadav’s much-loved Chota Don character to underline the reliability of at-home beauty services.
The campaign marks Yes Madam’s first collaboration with Rajpal Yadav and revisits the quirky Chota Don persona made famous in the 2007 film Partner. Produced with Footloose Films, the film blends slapstick humour with a nostalgic callback to spotlight the platform’s promise of dependable, quality services delivered at home.
The storyline plays out like a miniature action comedy. Tanya Mittal finds herself surrounded by goons and calls for help, only for Rajpal Yadav to appear in full Chota Don mode, dispatching the attackers in his trademark comic style as Mittal cheers him on. The drama then flips abruptly to a calmer scene, with Mittal relaxing at home while enjoying a Yes Madam service and insisting the heroic episode really happened, even as posters of Chota Don decorate her house. The film ends with Yadav’s voiceover declaring that the incident may or may not have happened, but the trust and quality of Yes Madam’s services certainly have.
The collaboration also follows a broader show of support for Rajpal Yadav within the industry. In the growing wave of backing for the veteran actor, Mayank Arya, co-founder and chief executive of Yes Madam, publicly supported actor-producer Sonu Sood’s call for concrete help from the film industry and corporate brands. Arya took to the social media platform X urging companies to move beyond expressions of sympathy and instead offer tangible opportunities to the actor amid his ongoing legal and financial challenges.
He wrote, “Seconded @SonuSood. Even brands should come forward to help the great talent. @Rajpalofficial will also be a part of an ad film @_yesmadam! Have already aligned the team on it. #ComeBackStronger.”
Seconded @SonuSood. Even brands should come forward to help the the great talent.@Rajpalofficial will also be a part of an ad film @_yesmadam !
Have already aligned the team on it.#ComeBackStronger https://t.co/Q7qpJttLTs— Mayank Arya (@iammayankarya) February 11, 2026
Rajpal Yadav recently surrendered at Tihar Jail after the Delhi High Court rejected his plea seeking additional time to repay dues in a long-running cheque-bounce case. The actor had been accused in the case in 2018 after he was unable to repay a loan taken for a film project that failed at the box office. The court later ordered him to surrender after the dues remained unpaid.
The situation triggered a wave of support from several high-profile figures. Sonu Sood emerged as one of the most prominent voices, expressing solidarity and promising Yadav a role in his next film. Sood emphasised that industry support should be about dignity and real job opportunities rather than charity. Celebrities including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Gurmeet Choudhary and Guru Randhawa have also publicly extended financial and professional support.
Before surrendering, Rajpal Yadav shared an emotional statement in which he spoke about feeling alone and unsupported, a remark that struck a chord with many in the industry. However, his brother later clarified that the actor would never have intended to suggest that he lacked support from colleagues or well-wishers.
Reflecting on the campaign, Mayank Arya said the film was designed to entertain while strengthening the brand’s message. “At Yes Madam, we have always believed in creating campaigns that connect with audiences in an engaging and memorable way. I had earlier spoken about the importance of extending meaningful opportunities to Rajpal Yadav, and we are glad to be the first brand to take that step forward with this collaboration. Through this film, we wanted to create a compelling narrative while also reinforcing the trust and reliability that customers associate with Yes Madam’s services,” Arya said.
Akanksha Vishnoi, co-founder, said the campaign leans on nostalgia to strike a chord with digital audiences. “Consumers today engage deeply with content that blends entertainment with relatability. With this campaign, we wanted to revisit a nostalgic moment while subtly reinforcing the convenience and reliability of at-home services. Rajpal Yadav’s Chota Don is an iconic character that instantly evokes nostalgia and humour, making it the perfect fit for this campaign. Tanya Mittal’s presence added a vibrant energy and helped us bring the vision of the campaign to life,” Vishnoi said.
Founded in 2016, Yes Madam offers salon and spa services at home through trained professionals using hygienic, single-use product formats. The platform now operates in more than 55 cities across India, pitching convenience, transparency and quality to a growing base of urban consumers.
The new campaign, rolling out across social media and video platforms, makes its pitch with a wink. The Chota Don rescue might be fiction, but the promise of a salon at your doorstep, the brand suggests, is the real deal.
