The Hindu Business Line : NIFT to impart new look to handloom textiles

STUDENTS of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bangalore and the Karnataka Government, are together working on new assignments that are designed to impact the textile industry in the State.

One of them is a design intervention programme that NIFT has with the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation. In this two-year project, students of the institute will advise the corporation on design aspects.

According to Ms Hema Maya, Director, NIFT, Bangalore, "The students will help the corporation in creating new designs out of existing stock fabric, create marketing links for KHDC and also furnish designs for new products.''

The students have also assisted the corporation in visual merchandising in four of its showrooms in Bangalore. In addition to this, they are also imparting selling lessons to salespersons in the showrooms. "In short, they will be working at projecting a new image for the corporation,'' she says.

Speaking to Business Line, the Director also mentioned that NIFTians were also working on apparel design projects for Khadi and Village Industries Board. Under this project, they had updated the kurta designs, and roped in a bit of Western design to cater to the contemporary market in India and helped `khadi' take off as a designer label. In the home accessories division of KVIB, curtains and bedsheet designs have been updated and a new look given to these products.

Currently, the students are also helping the weavers of Doddaballapur, near Bangalore to cater to the needs of the garment industry that is located in and around the city. This industry has been sourcing its fabric from Tirupur and some places in Andhra Pradesh.

The institute is also playing a major role in assisting the State Government formulate a garment policy, which will look into tax and labour reforms for the industry.

NIFT's bid at development work has also extended to preserving old crafts. It has tied up with the Ministry of Rural Development in a cluster development project at Hampi. As part of this programme, the institute will identify craftspeople of this area, update them with the latest technology, infrastructure and provide them with marketing strategies to make them self-sustaining.

NIFT, which is hosting a week-long celebration of fashion called `Spectrum 2K2' will have a Hampi Bazaar. Here traditional artisans from Hampi will demonstrate their skills. The NIFT week, starting today (November 15), will serve as platform for industry, other colleges and NIFT students to come together and exchange ideas in the discipline. It will feature events such as mask making, debate on business strategies for the garment industry, clay workshops and a design showcase where the work of the students will be displayed.

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