FDCI, Pearl Academy join hands for fashion education

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Pearl Academy on Sumday announced a landmark collaboration to offer India's best fashion programme.

The announcement was made at the finale of Pearl Academy's annual graduating event, Portfolio 2016, in presence of ace designers Manish Malhotra, David Abraham, Rohit Gandhi, Rahul Mishra, said a statement.

FDCI, the apex body of fashion design in India with over 400 members including Rohit Bal, Sabyasachi, J.J. Valaya, Namrata Joshipura, Anju Modi, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Manish Arora, and the Pearl Academy, one of the leading design institutes with a legacy of over two decades and centres in Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur, have come together to nurture and develop the designers of tomorrow, it said.

In an industry first, Pearl Academy's graduating fashion students will show their final collections at the Amazon India Fashion Week.

The FDCI will be conducting masterclasses for Pearl Academy's faculty and expose them to the latest trends and techniques in the industry. Also, regular FDCI events will be hosted at Pearl Academy campuses where by designer members, trend forecasters and fashion editors will teach and mentor students.

This unique initiative has been taken by the fashion industry to shape future designers, said the statement.

"This is a momentous juncture, as for the first time the entire Fashion Design Council is undertaking such a deep engagement with an institution. We are very proud to be associated with Pearl Academy.

"I find them to be forward-looking, innovative and leaders in design education. Their student work has been outstanding and I am confident that it will be further enhanced with this association. It is an opportunity for FDCI to shape the industry for tomorrow and this alliance is a first step in that direction," said FDCI president Sunil Sethi, who has always shown deep interest in fashion education, according to the statement.

Pearl Academy CEO Sharad Mehra added: "We have been associated with FDCI for multiple events but this association is a historic one and will change the face of fashion education. We welcome all the leading designers from FDCI to be a part of Pearl Academy and help mentor Pearlites to be future ready."

--IANS

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