The Bottomline 2026 marks the Graduation Project Presentations of the Master of Fashion Management (MFM) Batch at NIFT Gandhinagar, showcasing the innovative work of 37 graduating students.  Dr. Raj Kumar Jaiswal warmly welcomed industry leaders, faculty members, guests, and the graduating batch of 2026 to “The Bottom Line”, the Graduation Project Showcase of the Master of Fashion Management Batch 2024–26 at National Institute of Fashion Technology Gandhinagar. In his address, he highlighted NIFT’s legacy as a leading institution in design, management, and creative education, while appreciating the dedication, creativity, and hard work of the graduating students. He shared that 37 students from the Department of Fashion Management Studies had undertaken industry-oriented graduation projects with leading organizations including Flipkart, Myntra, Reliance Retail, PVH, PUMA, ASICS, Skechers, and Levi Strauss & Co., among others. Dr. Jaiswal emphasized that the showcase reflected the students’ academic learning as well as their understanding of real-world business challenges, and expressed hope that the event would foster meaningful discussions, industry-academia collaboration, and inspiration for the students’ future professional journeys.

The event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Sameer Sood, Director NIFT Gandhinagar in the esteemed presence of distinguished industry experts and speakers including Mr. Sundeep Singh, HR Head at Renee Cosmetics; Ms. Bhavana Ojha, HR Manager at Arvind Limited; Ms. Kruti Patel, Founder of She & We; Ms. Shweta Patel, Founder of Fashion Floor India; Mr. Arun Kumar Parasrampuria, Promoter at Suzuki Suiting Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Alin Shah, Owner of Tales and Stories; Ms. Pooja Shukla, Founder and Managing Director of Vedic Apparels Private Limited; Mr. Swapnil Soni, Founder of Studio Carbon; and Mr. Shobhit Tyagi, Founder Director of Pumraw Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. and Shashwat HR. The showcase brought together graduating students from the Master of Fashion Management programme, who presented innovative, industry-oriented, and future-focused projects developed in collaboration with leading organizations, startups, NGOs, research institutions, and industry partners.

Prof. Dr. Sameer Sood, Director said that India was emerging as a rapidly progressing nation full of opportunities, a fact strongly reflected in the views shared by industry professionals present during the event. He highlighted that the spirit of “New India” and the emerging Uttar Pradesh represented a dynamic and aspirational ecosystem offering immense possibilities for the younger generation.  He appreciated the work undertaken by students across various domains at NIFT and clarified that students from the School of Fashion Management were not primarily designers, but professionals trained to manage the business side of the fashion industry. He emphasized that NIFT functioned not only as a design institute, but also as an institution dedicated to Design, Management, and Technology.  He informed the audience that NIFT housed departments focused on technology, productivity, and efficiency enhancement, alongside design programmes and the Master of Fashion Management programme, which concentrated on the strategic and managerial dimensions of the fashion business.

Prof. Dr. Sameer Sood, Director, NIFT Gandhinagar further explained that the Fashion Management programme was originally introduced as AMM (Apparel Marketing and Merchandising) alongside GMT (Garment Manufacturing Technology) to support India’s export industry. However, he observed that many students were increasingly inclined towards the retail sector instead of the export domain.  Speaking about India’s vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047, he stated that the textile and apparel export sector would play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. Referring to the ambitious targets set by the Ministry of Textiles, he noted that India aimed to increase textile exports from approximately 35 billion dollars to 100 billion dollars, thereby tripling the country’s export capacity and generating large-scale opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.  He further emphasized that strengthening the export ecosystem had become essential in the current global economic scenario. While acknowledging the importance of retail, he encouraged students to also explore the export sector, which had been identified as a national priority and a key driver in India’s development journey.

Prof. Dr. Sameer Sood, Director described the textile and apparel industry as one of the country’s largest employment-generating sectors, particularly at the grassroots level. He stated that boosting exports would significantly contribute towards employment generation and reduction of unemployment.  Referring to the Government of India’s focus on export-led growth, he highlighted the significance of the “3Ts” — Textiles, Tourism, and Technology — as key pillars in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation.  He also laid special emphasis on the artisanal and craft sectors, describing them as integral to India’s heritage and identity. He remarked that India’s textile traditions had once contributed to making the country a Swarnim Bharat, and that the craft sector continued to possess immense potential because of the uniqueness and individuality of handcrafted products. India’s contribution of nearly 95% of the world’s handwoven fabrics was highlighted by him as a matter of national pride.

On sustainability, Prof. Dr. Sameer Sood, Director stated that India was emerging as a global destination for sustainable and ethical textile sourcing. Referring to initiatives such as Bharat Tex, he noted that the country was positioning itself strongly in the areas of fashion, textiles, and sustainability.  At the same time, he raised concerns regarding excessive dependence on imported products in the retail sector and stressed the need to stren

gthen domestic manufacturing, encourage local production, and promote value creation within the country. Encouraging students to explore entrepreneurship alongside retail and exports, Prof. Dr. Sameer Sood referred to observations by NITI Aayog that identified the fashion and apparel sector as an area offering significant startup and employment opportunities, even with relatively modest investments and government support.

Speaking during the event, Ms. Pooja Shukla, Founder and Managing Director of Vedic Apparels Private Limited, shared her inspiring entrepreneurial journey and encouraged students to believe in their ideas and persevere through challenges. Recalling the early days of her venture, she shared that she started her brand in 2008 with a seed investment of just ₹5 lakh, along with one salesperson and one tailor. Having recently shifted to Ahmedabad, with limited local knowledge and while expecting her second child, she identified a market gap for premium designer cotton wear suited to the city’s climate and decided to pursue the idea despite several personal and professional challenges. She explained how she sourced premium cotton fabrics from Rajasthan and launched a small boutique off CG Road in Ahmedabad. Initially facing financial and operational difficulties, she began participating in exhibitions and trade showcases, eventually taking part in nearly 75 exhibitions within the first year. These experiences not only helped her understand customer preferences but also gave her confidence as her products received a strong response in comparison to other exhibitors. Ms. Shukla further shared that her breakthrough came when major retail chains such as Central, Shoppers Stop, and Reliance showed interest in her products, following which her brand emerged as a top seller in several formats within a short span of time. Over the years, she successfully expanded her business, established exclusive outlets, and built a strong customer base across India.  Addressing the graduating students, she emphasized that while she had started her entrepreneurial journey with limited resources and no formal guidance, today’s students were equipped with world-class education, experienced faculty, and industry exposure at National Institute of Fashion Technology. Encouraging them to dream big, she motivated students to remain persistent, confident, and resilient in the face of setbacks, reminding them that dedication and belief in oneself could lead to remarkable achievements.

Addressing the graduating students, Mr. Swapnil Soni, Founder of Studio Carbon reflected on the deeper meaning of the theme *“The Bottom Line”* and emphasized that success should not be measured only through profits, but also through the impact created on people and society. Appreciating the innovative projects, insights, and problem-solving approaches presented by the students, he highlighted that the true essence of design and management lies in understanding human experiences and creating meaningful value.

Mr. Swapnil Soni, Founder of Studio Carbon encouraged students to think critically about their aspirations and responsibilities as emerging professionals. He noted that while technology, data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence were rapidly transforming industries, the ability to genuinely listen to people, understand customers, and create emotional connections would remain at the heart of meaningful design and leadership.  Speaking about the growing role of AI, he described it as a powerful tool that enhances efficiency and creativity rather than replacing human intent and imagination. Comparing AI to the invention of the pencil, he explained that technology could help people work faster and smarter, but human vision, empathy, and purpose would always remain central to innovation. He further emphasized that today’s graduates carried not only professional qualifications but also the responsibility to contribute positively to society through thoughtful and impactful work. Referring to sustainability, design, and technology, Mr. Soni remarked that while consumers today were more informed and conscious, they ultimately sought authentic and meaningful experiences.  Concluding his address, Mr. Swapnil Soni encouraged students to remain reflective, purposeful, and committed to creating work that leaves a positive impact, stating that beyond technology and success, the true “bottom line” in life is the ability to make people feel something meaningful.

Some of the key Graduation Projects were presented:

1. Ms Akhya Jain developed PACE (Product Analysis & Campaign Efficiency), an automated decision intelligence framework for e-commerce operations focused on integrating fragmented business data into a unified analytical system. The project improved product analysis and campaign efficiency by enabling faster and more accurate decision-making while significantly reducing reporting time and ensuring high SKU-level data accuracy.
2. Ms Rudri Bhatt developed a scalable Visual Merchandising Lab Framework for RENÉE Cosmetics to improve retail consistency and execution across multiple store formats. The project introduced centralized visual merchandising systems and modular display solutions to strengthen customer experience and retail execution efficiency.
3. Ms Mannat Arora completed a data-driven merchandising project at Myntra focused on improving retail performance tracking and assortment planning through analytical dashboards, category-level analysis, and business planning frameworks.
4. Ms. Nandini Sahai worked on the digital optimisation of e-commerce operations at ASICS India through automation, business intelligence integration, and AI discoverability strategies. The project demonstrated how automation, analytics, and AI integration can strengthen digital commerce operations.
5. Ms. Khushi Vora completed her Graduation Project at Skechers India, focusing on sell-through optimisation through merchandising and visual merchandising interventions across A+ retail stores. The project proposed strategic retail frameworks to improve customer engagement and inventory productivity.

The event reflects NIFT Gandhinagar’s continued commitment to nurturing future-ready professionals who combine creativity with purpose, technology with innovation, and management with strategic vision, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of India’s fashion ecosystem.

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