Fashion Design program

Duration : 3 Years

Centres : Mohali

Seats : 60

The Fashion Design program at NIIFT has earned a well deserved reputation for itself in the industry circles. The garment industry thrives on innovation and foresight, and is constantly on the lookout for professionals who can combine creative ideas with the right technical skills. The course meets the need and is perpetually designed to accord full rein to the imaginative flair of the students, harmonized with practically desired systems at the industrial level.

The knowledge imparted through the course is based on “learning by doing”. The synergy in the course is obtained through textual and practical conceptualization. Inputs from the leading professionals from time to time enable the students to keep abreast with the current trends in the garment industry. The students are also exposed to regular visits to industry, fairs, seminars, fashion shows etc. Besides, the students are exposed to actual work environment through field projects like craft survey & its documentation and the Industry Internship programs.

The Curriculum
The entire emphasis is on creation of promising designers made possible by extensive exposure to latest machinery and equipment, visual resources and 'on the job' experience during the industrial training. Thus the curriculum is designed such that there is a gradual but thorough development of a student into a professional designer.

Phase 1: Development of Basic Skills:
During this phase the students are imparted basic skills such as Elements of Fashion, Elements of Textiles, Elements of Design, Sketching, Art Appreciation, History of Costumes, Pattern Making, Draping, Garment Construction, Textile   Science, Yarn Craft, Study of Crafts & Introduction to Photography.

Phase 2: Development of Design Skills:
During this phase the aesthetic as well as the creative skills are cultivated and the students are trained in the disciplines like; Basic Design, Fashion Illustration, Surface Developments, Art portfolio, Computer Applications, Design Conceptualization and Manufacturing process.

Phase 3: Development of Professional Skills:
After acquiring the basic skills, their proficiency is enhanced through subjects like Advanced Pattern Making, Grading, Construction, Design Development, Introduction to Management Concepts, Apparel and Visual Merchandising and Computer Aided Design, Range Development, Fashion Forecasting, Design Collection. The curriculum also imbibes some innate features for the development of skills of the students

The curriculum also imbibes some innate features for the development of skills of the students.

Design and Creativity
This is stressed upon throughout the student's training period. The students dwell in an atmosphere of inspiration, aesthetics and liberty of concepts. The students are motivated to work on story lines based on international trends and forecasts, yet encouraged to keep their roots in traditional Indian textiles and techniques.

Field Visits
Students are taken for visits to industrial establishments and fairs so as to broaden their perspectives of the garment industry. 

Term Garment
It is a simulation of the commercial client demand in which students undertake practical exercise, to evaluate their design creativity, pattern making skills and quality of construction. Thus they understand the qualitative and logistics of the entire process of garment manufacturing.

Presentations / Seminars
Along with the garment presentations, the students are given opportunity to present the current topics related to the garment industry in the form of classroom seminars and presentations, which keeps them abreast with the latest developments and techniques followed in the industry.

Important Features of the Curriculum

Craft Documentation
Craft documentation forms an important part of the curriculum of Fashion Design course in the second semester.  Here the students undertake extensive excursion to study and document the rich & diverse aesthetic heritage of our country.  The survey enables the students to interact with the craftsmen in their habitats and get the first hand knowledge of the art and crafts.

Industry Internship
After the fourth semester the students are required to undertake a six weeks industry internship program wherein they work either in the industry or under a well known designer.  The main objective of this exercise is to enable the students to get an insight into the real working environment.

Graduating Design Collection Show (Anukama)
The final collection is a virtual reality of the hard work and toil of the students of the final semester. The collections encapsulate the technical accomplishments, the creative flair and philosophy behind the concepts and designs. The process of making the collections starts from inspirations to conceptualization followed by sourcing, developing the prototype, sewing and accessorization of the final ensemble. The final presentations carry with them the inspirations and impulses of the budding designers. The collections are adjudged by a jury comprising of designers and industry experts.

Career Opportunities
Creative Pattern Makers, Illustrators, Costume Designers, Fashion Merchandisers, Fashion Forecasters, Teachers And Entrepreneurs to name a few.