A young batch of students has entered the fashion industry by placing their products for sale even before they could graduate. From the passing-out batch of undergraduate and postgraduate students at National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), over 40 have placed their original designs on sale racks across India.
Designer shoes, jewellery, furniture and furnishings developed by NIFT students have hit stores in Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and New Delhi, among other cities. What’s more, students of the passing out batch of 2014-18 not just sold their ideas but also bagged plum jobs in different cities a few months before their graduation ceremony. NIFT’s annual placement record is close to 100%.
Style inspiration
Speaking to The Hindu , Aishwarya Dhekane said leather shoes designed by her are available at Kaas fine leather showrooms in Pune. “I used checks and patterns in weaving technique and also used tie-and-dye material to go with the leather shoes. This is the first of its kind design. Women’s shoes were inspired by the morning glory flower,” Ms. Dhekane said. Both men’s and women’s collections were marketed to corporate employees who prefer custom-made shoes.
Another student, Sumanini Misra’s designs were picked up by Amrapali, a luxury jewellery brand. Two sets of five pieces of silver jewellery which she designed were inspired by the architecture of the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha, and Parthenon, Greece.
“The pieces which I designed are movement-friendly. Even when you wear a ring, you can bend your finger. Another finger ring which I designed can be worn either on one finger or two,” Ms. Misra said.
One of the two designs she developed has copper plating while the other has a mixture of gold and silver. The 22-year-old has landed a job with Suhani Pittie in Hyderabad.
NIFT-Hyderabad has six basic courses including fashion, lifestyle and accessories, fashion design, fashion communication, knitwear design, textile design and fashion technology. Each course has 30 to 35 students. Project works of each student is developed over a period of six months.
Furniture designs
NIFT students also developed furniture designs that clubbed modern living with traditional designs, including Bidri work. “The projects are sponsored either by private companies or by the Ministry of Textiles,” said Kishore Chandra, a faculty member of NIFT.
The convocation ceremony for the passing-out batch will be held this month.
