NIFT Hosts Curtain Raiser for International Conference 2026

As part of its landmark NIFT@40 celebrations, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) hosted a Curtain Raiser for the NIFT International Conference 2026 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai. The event marked a key academic milestone, setting the intellectual tone for the forthcoming international conference scheduled for 22–23 January 2026, which will serve as the culminating academic highlight of NIFT’s four-decade journey.

The Curtain Raiser formally initiated the academic discourse leading up to the International Conference, offering a reflective yet future-facing platform that traced NIFT’s evolution across fashion, design, technology, and management education. The programme underscored NIFT’s role as a leading knowledge institution that continues to shape interdisciplinary thinking and global academic collaboration.

The event was attended by distinguished academicians and industry voices, including Prof. Dr. Ajit Khare, Director, NIFT Mumbai; Prof. Dr. Rupa Agarwal, Link- CAC & Conference Chair, NIFT International Conference; Ms. Savitha Suri, Textile Researcher and Author; Ms. Sulbha Jagat, Unit Leader – Fashion Design, Istituto Marangoni; and Dr. Indrila Varma, NIFT Alumna and Paper Presenter.

During the session, Ms. Savitha Suri highlighted the critical importance of research, documentation, and inquiry in textiles and design. She emphasised the need to preserve material knowledge while ensuring its relevance for future generations. Drawing on historical perspectives, she reflected on Mumbai’s textile evolution—from mill culture and cotton trade to contemporary markets—and stressed inclusive design approaches that centre craftspeople, students, and a deeper understanding of consumers.

Offering an international viewpoint, Ms. Sulbha Jagat spoke on cross-cultural collaboration, evolving pedagogies, and sustainability in design education. She highlighted zero-waste fashion as a core design methodology rooted in traditional textiles, while also addressing inclusivity through the responsible use of resources, tools, materials, time, and space. She further introduced the hands-on workshop she will conduct during the International Conference.

Dr. Indrila Varma reflected on the role of academic research in shaping inclusive and socially responsive design education. She discussed how the rapidly expanding digital industry—driven by artificial intelligence, immersive media, digital fabrication, and platform-based creative economies—is redefining expectations from design graduates. She also shared insights from her research paper, to be presented at the conference, which applies design thinking through the lens of equity.

The NIFT International Conference 2026 is being held under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Sharmila Dua and Prof. Dr. Shudha Dingra, with Prof. Dr. Sharmila Dua also serving as Senior Reviewer, reinforcing the conference’s academic rigour and peer-review integrity.

Aligned with NIFT’s year-long NIFT@40 initiatives, the Curtain Raiser complemented a series of academic and industry engagements, including participation in Bharat Tex, curriculum review interactions with industry stakeholders, craft and cluster initiatives such as Chhaap, and alumni-led academic exchanges.

Hosted at the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Curtain Raiser symbolically placed NIFT’s academic dialogue within a rich cultural and creative setting, building momentum and anticipation for the upcoming International Conference. The event reaffirmed NIFT’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary exchange, research excellence, and global academic partnerships.