NIFT G'nagar to launch Masters in fashion technology

In a bid to cater to the growing industrial demand, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Gandhinagar is planning to offer a post graduate masters programme in fashion technology (MFT). To be run by the Department of Fashion Management Studies (FMS) at the institute, the programme will be offered to students graduating in engineering or technology.

"The textile industry in India is predominantly focused on labour. Unlike the western countries, labour in the industry is less expensive and available in plenty. But once the labour cost begin to rise in the near future, lot of technological innovations will be required in textile industry.

Currently, the industry demands skilled workforce who can bring technological innovations to optimise resources and cost and stay ahead in competition," said a faculty member at the department of fashion management studies.

The new programme, which will begin from the upcoming academic year, will be offered to a maximum of 35 students. MFT will be offered for a fees of Rs 2.20 lakh and will feature specialisations in areas like technical textiles, organic textiles, etc.

Meanwhile, NIFT Gandhinagar is also mulling setting up Dhirubhai Ambani and Arvindbhai Lalbhai research chairs in the areas of fashion technology and fashion management. The institute has sent draft proposal to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Arvind Limited for the research chairs.

The research chair in fashion management may require sponsorship worth Rs 30 lakh.

Similarly, fashion technology may need corpus of upto Rs 1 crore. According to sources, the research chair will be set up for a minimum period of three years at the Gandhinagar campus, making it probably be the first research chair among NIFT campuses.