Fashion Education

Introduction

A career in fashion design has always been lucrative. Due to the rapid and volatile changes occurring in the industry, the future role of fashion designers require the ability to perform deeper levels of research in order to support design proposals. Fashion designers were expected to engage with previously unrelated practices to create innovative fashion design, contextualize the work, and improve industry system. India took efforts in preparing graduates for this accelerated and highly unpredictable professional landscape by reimagining the future of fashion design education. Education was needed to provide greater interdisciplinary opportunities through balanced education that incorporates the development of conceptual thinking and practical hands on skills. People are engaged in fashion industry generating employment at primary, secondary, retail and auxiliary level. The need was seen here to have fashion education.

What gave rise to fashion education?

We already know the value of design as it is a vital component for economic development and social well-being. India's competitiveness as a global economy hinges on our ability to harness the power of design. Design education in India is a valuable asset, which must be nurtured so it can go from strength to greater strength.

The growth of industry depends on increasing demand of textiles and apparel market in India. To meet this ever growing demand, the industry keeps reinventing itself.

Higher education satisfies rhe artistic fancies and the materialistic needs of the people. It promises glamour, success, fame and high pay package to the talented people.

First design institute was National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad in 1961 which focused on industrial design and helped shape the beginning of modern indian design.

In 1986, the ministry of Textiles set up india's first fashion school- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) -with the intention of "developing professionals for taking up leadership positions in fashion business in the emerging global scenario".

In recent years more private institutes came School of Fashion Technology, Pearl Institute and many more.

Current Scenario

Over the past few decades, institutes introduced many courses such as fashion design, textile & apparel design, accessory design, jewelry design, fashion technology, image consulting/ personal styling, fashion photography. Many leading designers such aa Sabyasachi Mukherjee gained his education from NIFT.