STYLE ICON

MARRYING MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND CONTEMPORARY TRENDS WITH INDIA’S TRADITIONAL CRAFT, NIFT, NEW DELHI, SHOWS THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE OF FASHION IN INDIA

- SHELLY ANAND

In a country as multifaceted as India, fashion is as much an expression of the self as it is a reflection of the social milieu we inhabit. It is deeply personal, and yet, a mirror unto itself of a nation’s aspirations, its history and identity. Perhaps that’s the reason why, say, a humble dhoti never goes out of style, or the ever-so-elegant sari keeps seeing pretty modern iterations every so often. Set up in 1986, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, is acutely aware of the sheer diversity and scope for experimentation India offers when it comes to fashion, and has consistently tried to expand the boundaries of the industry. It has done so by marrying knowledge with traditional arts, contemporary thought, and innovations in design and technology.