International engagements enhance India’s textile sector
The National Institution of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has established formal collaborations with over 22 institutions across more than 14 countries, including the UK, France, Australia, Japan, the United States, New Zealand and Finland, supporting student and faculty exchanges, joint research initiatives, dual-degree and twinning programs, collaborative curriculum development, and global academic immersion.
Notable engagements include partnerships with institutions such as FIT (New York), UAL (UK), ENSAIT (France), and Bunka (Japan) through MoUs, Textile Minister Giriraj Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha on 22 July.
Over the past five years, approximately 100 plus NIFT students and many faculty members have participated in international exchange programs, with reciprocal participation from global partner institutions https://www.texmin.nic.in/.
These international engagements enhance India’s position in the global textile and fashion sector by fostering academic excellence, promoting innovation, and enabling knowledge transfer. They expose students and faculty to global design sensibilities, technological advancements, and emerging trends.
By aligning curricula with international standards, these collaborations equip Indian graduates with the skills and insights needed to compete effectively in global markets and strengthen India’s reputation as a hub for creative and technical expertise in textiles and fashion https://www.bseindia.com/.
NIFT is actively leveraging its international partnerships to promote sustainable and innovative practices in fashion and textile education. Several collaborations are focused on sustainable design strategies, ethical production, circular economy models, and textile systems, with specific relevance to SMEs based ecosystems https://www.nseindia.com/.
Through its international collaborations, NIFT has begun integrating global sustainability frameworks into academic programs and research initiatives.
Examples include:
Ongoing engagement with institutions like FIT (New York) and UAL (UK) to develop joint modules on sustainable fashion and textiles and semester exchange a collaborative initiative with FTTI at UAL (UK) focusing on circularity, responsible fashion, and cultural sustainability;
Faculty participation in global forums on sustainable textiles and climate-conscious fashion practices; Student involvement in design projects, international exhibitions, and exchange programs highlighting sustainability, he said in an industry update. Fiinews.com
