Meet the man who quit his Rs 50 lakh job in Canada to start an athleisure brand with his childhood friend, plans to bring 10k people on board in just one year

Forge Athletica, a premium activewear brand founded and conceptualized in March 2023 by Chiranjeev Mehra and Deep Patel – has set a goal to build a community of 10,000 action-takers within the next year in India, the USA, and Canada. The company believes that every human being has the potential to be great and wants to become a beacon of inspiration for dreamers like them.

Chiranjeev and Deep have been best of friends for 17 years. After spending four successful years in the corporate world, Chiranjeev felt a strong calling to make a meaningful difference in his cherished homeland. With great determination, he returned to his motherland.

With a focus on promoting an active lifestyle, the company's mission is to build a more tenacious world by offering activewear that is carefully engineered for people who want to constantly challenge themselves. The brand sources some of the finest fabric blends that are optimum for an Indian body and a tropical climate. They aim to create a community of individuals who have the tenacity to achieve their desired lives.

Forge Athletica's story began when Chiranjeev Mehra observed that people around him were feeling more and more depressed because of a lack of social interaction and the absence of tasks that would secrete dopamine in their brains. He found out that an active lifestyle can really help deal with the ongoing mental health catastrophe back home. 

He brainstormed different ideas with his friends on how to spread and promote an active lifestyle across a country where health is not a priority for the majority of its population. After thorough procrastination, he, along with Deep Patel, came up with the idea of building a premium activewear brand named Forge Athletica based in Surat, Gujarat. They bootstrapped the venture with their savings to the last rupee.

"Our mission is to build a more tenacious world by offering activewear that is carefully engineered for people who want to constantly challenge themselves," says Chiranjeev Mehra, CEO and Founder of Forge Athletica.

The company aims to build a community of 10,000 individuals who believe in the power of an active lifestyle. They want to create a space where people can share their fitness journeys, encourage each other, and hold each other accountable. Forge Athletica's focus is not only on creating high-quality activewear but also on building a community of individuals who support each other's goals and aspirations.

Their greatest hurdle was the scarcity of high-quality activewear manufacturers in our country. They discovered that most brands import a significant portion, if not all, of their products. However, they were determined to source everything locally from India, including fabrics, prints, and stitching.

Adding to the challenge, Chiranjeev and Deep had zero experience in fashion or e-commerce. Nevertheless, we embarked on a journey of self-education, diving into the intricacies of fabrics, stitching techniques, dyeing processes, colour-fabric reactions, and prints.

In a conversation with Startup Pedia, Chiranjeev Mehra talks about the vision of the firm and says, “As an entrepreneur, I believe in the power of human potential and the importance of constantly challenging ourselves to become better versions of ourselves. That's why we founded Forge Athletica, to inspire individuals to embrace an active lifestyle and unlock their true potential. We want to build a community of action-takers and present-day warriors who are not afraid to face challenges and push their limits. Our goal is to provide premium activewear that empowers individuals to run that extra mile, perform that extra rep, or climb those extra feet with confidence and comfort.”

The brand's activewear collections are carefully designed to cater to the challenges faced by present-day warriors. The fabric blends used are optimum for an Indian body and a tropical climate, providing the wearer with comfort and confidence to push themselves further. Forge Athletica wants to make a difference in people's lives by providing them with the right tools and support to achieve their fitness goals.

"We want to make a community of action-takers and individuals who have the tenacity to achieve their desired lives," says Chiranjeev Mehra.

The company offers free shipping, flexible payment options, and a seven-day return policy for an exchange. They have online support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Forge Athletica is a premium activewear brand designed for and by athletes. With a focus on community building, the brand's goal to build a community of 10,000 individuals within the next year is a testament to its commitment to helping people achieve their fitness goals and live a more active lifestyle.

Forge Athletica's mission to build a community of action-takers who have the tenacity to achieve their desired lives is an inspiration to individuals who want to challenge themselves and live a healthier lifestyle. Forge Athletica is set to make a significant impact on the world of fitness and wellness.