Not all glamour: The two new courses at NIFT aim at a holistic understanding of the fashion business

How about doing some research on eco-friendly fabrics or understanding the similarities between visual merchandising and fashion styling? Or learning the best practices followed by international fashion studios?

If you are keen on pursuing such specialised fashion studies then you could enroll for either of the two new postgraduate courses recently launched by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi.

Both the courses are designed to bridge the existing gap in the sphere of advanced studies in fashion and related areas. While the two-year degree course in design in fashion space will encompass all aspects in the realm of fashion, the diploma programme in enterprise management for fashion business aims to provide a holistic understanding of the fashion business. With a lot of stress on seminars, industry projects and international exposure, the two courses are best suited for individuals interested in research and development in fashion and related areas.

“The courses are targeted at professionals interested in mature analytical research opportunities,” points out Anupam Jain, head of the design in fashion space programme. For instance, students start research work on their chosen subjects from the second semester onwards. “From a certain type of textile or pattern to a certain aspect of fashion, jewellry or fashion communication, research subjects can be as varied as possible, depending on the student’s interest and aptitude,” adds Jain. The course encompasses various aspects related to fashion, including visual merchandising, photography, fashion journalism, jewellry designing, etc.

Graduates from this programme can hold key positions in leading fashion and corporate houses. The scope of the job would include predicting fashion trends, design and management of fashion brands, and research and development in government and private agencies.

Students who have done this course can look forward to pursuing fruitful careers as design strategists, scholars, entrepreneurs and academicians. “Such specialised courses help in better placements. On several occasions, I find it difficult to employ people because they lack focus and specialisation in their area of work,” adds Nayyar.

Like the design in fashion space programme, the enterprise management course too is tailor-made to meet the requirements of a select group of individuals. “This integrated programme of design, technology, fashion and management is designed for future entrepreneurs, family-owned business persons and senior level managers,” says Pradeep Joshi, head of management of the executive development programme unit at NIFT.

The 18-month course is divided into three semesters of six months each. The programme consists of a final term research project and includes an international visit for students to understand the best global practices in the fashion industry. From business management to marketing, from merchandising to design and fashion studies, the course will give students a broader vision of running a fashion business. Agrees designer Siddharth Tytler, “Management skills along with creativity are crucial to survive in the highly competitive fashion industry. Besides entrepreneurs, such courses will help future designers market themselves strategically.”

Admission for the 25 seats in the management courses will be on the basis of an admission test followed by a group discussion and personal interview. In addition to a general and mental aptitude test, candidates applying for the design in fashion space programme will have to submit a portfolio which will be presented during the interview session.

Over and above the two postgraduate courses, NIFT has also launched 48 continuing education programmes ranging in duration from one month to one year. The courses to be launched in the Calcutta campus of NIFT include one-year programmes on graphic design, fashion and clothing technology, textile development for fashion, computer application in fashion industry and clothing production technology. Courses on basics of interior design, exhibition and display design, fashion popular culture and semiotics are of six-months’ duration. Or you could do the four-month programme on export-import management and three-month courses on fashion photography and imaging, fashion styling, knitwear pattern making and construction and selling and communication techniques for retail.