When Otara Chandiram, Managing Director of ODEL opened her first retail outlet in 1989, she was no stranger to the world of fashion. Having been a top model, her keen eye for detail and innate sense of style helped Otara to create a company that has taken Sri Lanka's garment industry by storm.
A new wave in dressing crept into the market, as ODEL made up-to-the-minute fashions, previously reserved for markets abroad, accessible to men, women and children living in Sri Lanka. Tourists also became regular customers, and as ODEL's popularity grew, so did its product lines (from ODEL ware, to Homeware and Stock Lots) and the number of outlets.