As part of its NIFT@40 celebrations, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) hosted a Curtain Raiser for the upcoming NIFT International Conference 2026 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai. The event marked a key academic moment in NIFT’s four-decade journey as a leading institution in fashion, design, technology and management education.
The Curtain Raiser formally initiated the intellectual dialogue leading up to the NIFT International Conference, scheduled for 22–23 January 2026, which is positioned as the flagship academic event of the NIFT@40 milestone year. The programme reflected on NIFT’s evolution over the past 40 years while setting the agenda for future-focused discussions on education, innovation and research.
The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Ajit Khare, Director, NIFT Mumbai; Prof. Dr. Rupa Agarwal, Link-CAC and Conference Chair; Ms. Savitha Suri, textile researcher and author; Ms. Sulbha Jagat, Unit Leader – Fashion Design, Istituto Marangoni; and Dr. Indrila Varma, NIFT alumna and conference paper presenter.
Ms. Savitha Suri highlighted the importance of research, documentation and critical inquiry within textiles and design education. Drawing from Mumbai’s textile history, she traced its journey from cotton trade and mills to contemporary markets, while stressing inclusive design approaches that centre craftspeople, students and informed consumers.
Offering a global perspective, Ms. Sulbha Jagat discussed evolving design pedagogies, cross-cultural collaboration and sustainability. She emphasised zero-waste fashion as a design methodology rooted in traditional textiles and spoke about inclusivity in terms of responsible use of resources, materials, tools, time and space. She also introduced the hands-on workshop she will conduct during the conference.
Dr. Indrila Varma focused on the role of academic research in shaping socially responsive and inclusive design education. She addressed how emerging digital ecosystems—driven by artificial intelligence, immersive media and digital fabrication—are redefining expectations from design graduates. She also shared insights from her research paper, which applies design thinking through the lens of equity.
The conference is being organised 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 academic rigour and peer-review standards of the conference.
Aligned with NIFT’s year-long NIFT@40 initiatives, the Curtain Raiser complemented ongoing academic and industry engagements, including participation in Bharat Tex, curriculum reviews with industry, craft and cluster initiatives such as Chhaap, and alumni-led academic exchanges.
Hosted at NGMA, the Curtain Raiser placed NIFT’s academic discourse within a culturally rich creative setting, while building momentum for the upcoming International Conference. The event reaffirmed NIFT’s role as a leading knowledge institution fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and global academic collaboration.
