Grooming India’S fashion talent to the global level

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) was established under the Ministry of Textile in 1986 with an aim to provide a platform for fashion education in India. NIFT was made a statutory institute in 2006 by an Act of Parliament viz. NIFT Act, 2006. Over 36 years of its existence, NIFT has been in the vanguard of providing professional human resource to the textile and apparel industry. As a pioneering Institute in fashion education, NIFT has become a driving force in nation building by imparting international standard fashion education to the youth, integrating knowledge, academic freedom, critical independence and creative thinking. It is the result of its constant and persistent efforts that NIFT has been ranked at number 9 amongst fashion institutes of the world. They have now 18 world class campuses in India.

NIFT embraces a global approach towards its academic deliverance by way of strategic agreements and partnerships with about 32 leading international fashion institutes & organisations. The Institute also attracts international students offering experiences in academic and cultural richness to foreign students.

We at NIFT shall offer, at all our campuses, a learning experience of the highest standards in fashion pertaining to design, technology and management and encourage our remarkably creative student body to draw inspiration from  the rich heritage of India’s textiles and crafts while focusing on emerging  global trends relevant to the industries we serve, says Sh. Shantmanu

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The curriculum offers multidisciplinary learning that prepares students for real life challenges and allows them to carve out unique pathways for themselves. With changing times, the curriculum is updated with the latest trends as well as futuristic propositions by integrating across disciplines. The curriculum covers subjects of digital intervention such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Business Analytics, Internet of Things, Digital Embroidery, Laser & 3D Printing, Augmented Reality, Virtual Experience design; as well as specialized subjects of fashion expertise such as Smart Jewellery, Smart Textiles, Ergonomic Design Environment, Fashion Thinking, Sensory Design, Optitex for Virtual Prototyping, Surface Embellishment and Design Strategy. The academic curriculum incorporates internships, industry visits, outbound programmes as well as real life projects, seminars and interactions that provide opportunities for students to appreciate and understand the working of the industry. Craft Cluster Activities are one of the most important and integral part of NIFT’s curricula which fuse the Unique Craft Cluster Initiative programme of the Ministry of Textiles with the academic programmes to sensitize the students about their rich craft heritage. Recently, NIFT has laid a special focus on GI registered crafts of India.

NIFT has to its credit more than 35000 Alumni since its inception in 1986, working with the industry in key decision making positions who have been instrumental in shaping the future of fashion business as change agents in India and abroad. Several NIFT alumni have become entrepreneurs and successful brands themselves such as Ritu Beri, Sabyasachi Mukherji to name a few.

Over the years NIFT has also been working as a knowledge service provider to the Union and State governments in the area of design development and positioning of handlooms and handicrafts. Riding on its previous experiences, NIFT has recently taken up some unique projects like Project India Size and VisioNXT, in the field of fashion research for the country. Project ‘India Size’ intends to develop size charts on the lines of US size and UK sizes that are currently prevalent in the industry. India Size would establish size charts for Indian body types considering the topography & diversity. VISIONXT projects is one of its kind ‘Trend insight and Fashion Forecasting Lab’ to forecast India’s fashion to suit future trends. Textile and Craft repository is being developed as a knowledge portal for textiles, crafts & clothing to preserve and promote Indian textiles and crafts. NIFT is also setting up Design Resource Centres at Weavers Service Centres for DC (Handlooms), developing Digital Platform for Craft Based Enterprises for Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (Meity). A craft repository project is also underway to collate, showcase and share results of craft cluster activities on a single platform.

With focus on India’s rich heritage, Center of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK) has been set up by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) which conducts diagnostic study of selected Khadi Institutions to identify gaps and suggests corrective measures to promote and market Khadi products.

With its multifarious approach, integrating global vision with grassroots connect, NIFT has become an agent of change in the field of fashion education and nation building.

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