From design to jobs: NIFT powering India’s textile employment ecosystem

Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh on Thursday said the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has emerged as a major economic and employment driver for India’s textile and craft sectors, with each NIFT graduate supporting an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 jobs over their lifetime.

Addressing the plenary session at the NIFT International Conference 2026 on “Design for Inclusive Futures” at the NIFT Mumbai campus, the Minister underlined the growing role of design-led education in job creation, industry expansion and national economic growth.

The two-day international conference concluded on January 22 and coincided with the completion of 40 years of NIFT, marking four decades of contribution to fashion education, design innovation, sustainability and industry engagement in India.

Highlighting India’s shift towards self-reliance, Giriraj Singh said the country is moving away from dependence on foreign benchmarks and developing indigenous design standards through initiatives such as IndiaSize and VisionNxt. These efforts, he said, align with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by strengthening India-specific design forecasting, manufacturing and identity, thereby generating more employment opportunities across the value chain.

Referring to government interventions to boost the sector, the Minister cited steps such as the reduction of GST on affordable clothing from 18 per cent to 5 per cent and the removal of trade barriers, including cotton import duties, which have supported industry growth and job creation. He also noted that NIFT’s design expertise is now contributing to employment in allied sectors such as automobiles and logistics, reflecting the institute’s expanding economic footprint.

Emphasising the role of NIFT alumni in achieving Vision 2047, the Minister encouraged them to build strong global networks while creating jobs domestically and representing the “I AM NIFT” identity with pride on international platforms.

The inaugural session was attended by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles; Tanu Kashyap, Director General, NIFT; Prof. (Dr.) Noopur Anand, Dean, NIFT; Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Kumar Khare, Director, NIFT Mumbai; Prof. (Dr.) Sudha Dhingra, Director, Centre of Excellence for Khadi; and Prof. (Dr.) Rupa Agarwal, Conference Chair.

During the session, the book NIFT @40 “धरोहर”, documenting four decades of the institute’s journey, was released. The NIFT@41 logo was unveiled and a Craft Bazaar was inaugurated by the Chief Guest.

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Addressing the gathering, the Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, highlighted the critical role of design in national development and employment generation. She lauded NIFT’s initiatives such as VisionNxt, IndiaSize and curriculum restructuring, and emphasised the institute’s contribution to the Prime Minister’s 5F Vision—Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign. She also stressed the importance of respecting artisans, ethical design practices, and systematic documentation of traditional knowledge to build inclusive and future-ready fashion ecosystems.

The conference featured parallel technical sessions across four thematic tracks, with 23 peer-reviewed research papers presented. Workshops on accessibility, ethics, sustainability and future-ready design practices, along with curated exhibitions and craft bazaars, added to the industry-academia engagement during the event.