Launched in 2022, ICH NEXT analyses social and cultural signals alongside macro-level content every month to provide guidance across colours, fabrics, silhouettes, patterns and pricing
An India-first trend intelligence service aimed at addressing a multi-billion-dollar gap in fashion and lifestyle forecasting has been launched in New Delhi, signalling a shift in how the industry understands and anticipates consumer behaviour. The platform, ICH NEXT, was unveiled this week at the French Institute in India and has partnered with global creative strategy and trend consultancy Peclers Paris to deliver research-led, locally rooted trend intelligence for Indian brands.
The initiative targets an estimated USD 2 billion-plus white space created by inaccurate or poorly contextualised forecasting in India’s fashion and lifestyle ecosystem. While the Indian market is projected to exceed USD 240 billion and is growing at over 10 per cent annually, much of the industry continues to rely on global trend reports that offer broad inspiration but limited relevance to India’s complex realities.
Industry experts note that global forecasts often fail to reflect India’s cultural diversity, climate conditions, craft traditions, body types and festival-led consumption cycles. As a result, brands face challenges in translating global trends into commercially viable products for Indian consumers, leading to inefficiencies across design, production and retail.
The ICH NEXT x Peclers Paris collaboration seeks to bridge this gap by combining global foresight with deeply contextual, India-based research. The platform is designed to offer actionable intelligence that aligns with local consumer behaviour while remaining connected to global cultural and aesthetic shifts.
Explaining the need for a localised approach, ICH NEXT co-founders Anuradha Chandrasekhar and Kanika Vohra said India cannot be viewed as a single, homogeneous market or as a fast follower of Western trends. Multiple consumer segments, extended summers, strong cultural meanings attached to colour and silhouette, and occasion-driven demand cycles significantly influence how trends are adopted in the country.
They also pointed out that India is no longer merely adapting global trends but actively shaping them. From digital behaviour and beauty rituals to fashion aesthetics, Indian brands, creators and consumers are increasingly setting new cultural cues with global influence. “The industry needs a research lens rooted in local culture, powered by data, and designed to solve real business challenges,” the co-founders said, adding that the partnership enables businesses to anticipate, adapt and lead with greater confidence.
Launched in 2022, ICH NEXT analyses social and cultural signals alongside macro-level content every month to provide guidance across colours, fabrics, silhouettes, patterns and pricing. Brands using the platform have reported faster design cycles, improved sell-through, stronger category performance and revenue growth. To scale its offerings, ICH NEXT plans to invest USD 1.5 million over the next three years.
Peclers Paris, part of the USD 20 billion WPP network, brings over 50 years of experience in shaping forward-looking brand strategies, with a strong heritage in fashion, aesthetics and design innovation. Anne Etienne-Reboul, CEO of Peclers Paris, said India’s cultural depth, creativity and confidence demand a different approach to forecasting.
By integrating global vision with Indian insight, the collaboration aims to create trend intelligence that is both visionary and commercially relevant, helping Indian fashion and lifestyle brands compete more effectively in a rapidly evolving market.
