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The business of fashion
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NIFT's Fashion Spectrum 2K2 provided a platform for the fashion industry and students to gain exposure about each other's area of expertise.
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MEETING GROUND: The workshop created awareness about NIFT.
FOR THE National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Hyderabad, the recently held `Fashion Spectrum 2K2' meant recognition as another institution of excellence, besides the IT and business schools of the city.
Add on included the initiation of the all-new NIFT band "Groun-dead," and a unique fashion show (patented at that!) called "Brand on the Ramp." `Fashion Spectrum 2K2', an event that was until last year held annually at NIFT, Delhi, was held simultaneously across the seven centres in the country this year, and this will be an annual feature henceforth.
From November 11 to 15, the NIFT campus at Madhapur was the hub of activity and provided a chance for NIFT to interact with students from other academic institutions and experts in the industry, besides fashion aficionados. It also gave Hyderabadis an opportunity to know what NIFT was all about.
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY: Fashion and non-fashion professionals met on a common platform.
The five days at NIFT showcased a wide spectrum of components that actually go into fashion — be it designing fabric or furniture and accessories, moulding glass or virtual web design, or better still, moulding NIFT students into professionals who would very soon quote their own prices for their services. It also meant placements for a number of students in the industry, with many getting exciting offers and orders for their talents.
The event marked the significance the fashion industry has gained in the last few years. On account of changes world over, fashion has become much more "accessible" than in the past and according to Anupreet Bhalla, a faculty member at NIFT, "A better career opportunity than it was in the past." Students from NIFT, and other institutions too, got to participate in industry seminars on themes ranging from "Fabric Colouring using Eco-Friendly Dyes," and "Tale of Retail - an Indian Perspective" to "Global Manufacturing Practices," and "Latest Trends in Animation Techniques."
Students also presented seminars on Value-Addition, Brand Positioning, Trend Forecasting (for the Summer 2003) and Retail Anthropology. Fun-filled cultural evenings, including brand fashion shows and puppetry, added colour and glamour to the whole exercise.
Students got a chance to interact with experts in various fields through workshops. The one on "Yarn Crafts," for instance, gave them a chance to weave their dream yarn around a theme. Another workshop titled "Knotty Splendour" had some exquisite accessories and clothes designed around themes such as "moonshine" and "volcano," and tested students' skill in tying knots, for clothes and bags, innovatively.
"Style Gallery" had students come up with wacky, yet practical and quick solutions using everyday items from safety pins to colourful thermocol balls to jazz up an outfit.
Seema Doshi, a NIFT student said, "We had an opportunity to learn about areas different from ours. It was a multi-disciplinary learning exercise." Spandana adds, "We got to learn about practical situations in the industry and it was a good exposure. We also realised that the awareness of fashion is increasing today."
Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Department of Information Technology at NIFT, Sanjay Srivastava said, "This is one way for NIFT to go to the masses. This is also a platform for the industry and the students to gain exposure about each other's area of expertise. For instance, a young independent software designer got an offer from Badri Prasad (HOD, Mantra) to work with his team! Moreover, for the students here, there is a sense of belongingness to the institution inculcated through these exercises, which is also important."
Neha, a student of Apparel Marketing and Merchandising, said, "We learnt about the future of the garment industry, the trends and branding, and how to combine fashion with IT." According to Hari Shankar Prasad, Assistant Professor and Coordinator in Department of Fashion Management Studies, "Students within and outside NIFT, learnt about management of fashion as well as fashion per se. It was an out-and-out interactive affair. We aimed to give due exposure to NIFT, which is lacking in the city. Our students here mainly come from the North and very few are local."
Spectrum 2K2 enabled even master craftsmen gain from interaction with students. Master glassworker Mushtaq Ali Zaidi who crafted some of the best pieces of glass articles also learnt a couple of designs from the NIFT students. He was seen busy preparing a pendant with the Spectrum logo, and making custom-made artefacts in designs new to him. "Some of these students will definitely make a mark in the field, if they continue with the dedication they have shown here," he says. For the Hyderabadis, NIFT, it seems, has become an added attraction at Madhapur, besides Shilparamam, in the last couple of days. And that may just be the beginning.
R. UMA MAHESHWARI
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