Manu Balachandran is a writer for Forbes India, based in Bengaluru. At Forbes India, Manu writes on automobiles, aviation, pharmaceuticals, banking, infrastructure, economy and long profiles among many others. He also moderates many of Forbes India's CEO and CXO events and hosts Capital Ideas, a podcast on the most riveting success stories from the business world. He has previously worked with Quartz, The Economic Times and Business Standard in Mumbai and New Delhi. Manu has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University and a degree in economics from the Loyola College. When not chasing stories, he is most likely obsessing over Formula 1 (Read: Lewis Hamilton), historical events and people, or planning long weekend drives from Bengaluru
Alan Alexander Kaleekal | 29 Founder, creative director, Kaleekal By the time Alan Alexander Kaleekal finished studying applied electronics and instrumentation, he knew that his calling wasn’t in the world of engineering.
So, the then 21-year-old packed his bags and left for Paris to study at Studio Berçot, where he spent the next three years learning fashion design. “It was a big decision and my parents were supportive of what I was doing. I had always known this is what I wanted to do,” says Alan, who grew up in Thiruvananthapuram.
After training with some of the biggest designers, including Jean-Paul Gaultier, Azzedine Alaïa and Rick Owens, Kaleekal returned to India in 2015, and launched his eponymous label. The funds came from his own pocket with his work primarily focusing on Indian artisanal crafts and handloom fabrics, his design sensibility contemporary and rooted in the idea of finding “perfection in imperfection”. Due to the experimental patterns and fits, his clothes tend to be gender neutral. Over the past couple of years, Kaleekal has been showcasing at various events, including Lakme Fashion Week.
“As a young designer, Alan has been working with the artisans on the ground level and, at the same time, has developed a design language that is appealing to the global audience. Very few people have managed to do that,” says Jaspreet Chandok, head of Lakme Fashion Week and vice president and head of fashion at IMG Reliance.
Now, Kaleekal is setting up an experiential space in Thiruvananthapuram, which houses an art gallery, design space, library and an experimental lab kitchen, which is expected to open this year. His company is yet to break even, but Kaleekal has some serious plans for the next few years, including collaborating with Raymond for their menswear, applying to international fashion awards and eventually showcasing his line at Paris Fashion Week. “I want to take the brand international and open up stores globally,” he says.