: Mumbai, 23 May 2026:

National Institute of Fashion Technology Mumbai hosted its Graduation Showcase “Genesis 2026” on 22 May 2026, celebrating the academic achievements, creativity, innovation, and industry readiness of over 413 graduating students from six undergraduate and two postgraduate departments.

The event was inaugurated by Smt. Vrunda Manohar Desai, Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The programme commenced with the ceremonial inauguration, lighting of the lamp, and welcome address by Prof. Dr. Ajit Kumar Khare, Director, NIFT Mumbai, who highlighted the institution’s commitment to equipping students with entrepreneurial, innovative, and technology-driven skills aligned with evolving consumer dynamics.

Addressing the gathering during the seminar on “Future of Indian Textile Industry in the Era of AI”, the Chief Guest inspired graduating students to become future leaders of India’s textile sector. She appreciated NIFT’s industry-oriented learning approach and praised students for their collaborative industry projects and innovative problem-solving abilities. Emphasizing that Artificial Intelligence should serve as a tool rather than a replacement for human creativity, she underlined the importance of preserving India’s rich textile heritage while building globally recognized Indian brands.

The Chief Guest also highlighted the strength of India’s textile sector, government initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme and National Fibre initiatives, along with the growing importance of sustainability, technical textiles, and circularity in shaping a globally competitive and environmentally responsible textile industry.

One of the major highlights of the event was the seminar on “Future of the Indian Textile Industry in the Era of AI”, organised in association with Suvin Expo LLP, the knowledge partner for the seminar. The session brought together eminent industry leaders, academicians, and technology experts to discuss the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in the textile and fashion ecosystem.

The seminar was moderated by Avinash Mayekar. Distinguished panellists included Kapil Pathare, Dr. G. V. Aras, Dr. Vijay Gotmare, and Shaligram.

The discussion highlighted how Artificial Intelligence is transforming textile manufacturing, retail, supply chain management, quality inspection, sustainability, and fashion forecasting. Panellists emphasized the role of AI in predictive analytics, inventory optimization, automated defect detection, smart processing, digital twins, and sustainable manufacturing practices. Experts collectively agreed that AI would not replace human creativity but would empower designers and manufacturers with advanced tools for faster innovation and improved decision-making.

As part of Genesis 2026, the graduation showcase served as a vibrant platform for graduating students to present innovative projects and design collections across diverse disciplines.

The Fashion Design Department showcased “FASHIONOVA 2026” with industry-linked collections developed in collaboration with companies including Tata Trent, BIBA, Skechers, and Myntra, focusing on sustainability, heritage textiles, and experimental silhouettes.

The Textile Design Department presented “TANTU 2026”, featuring projects in apparel, home décor, branding, and sustainable textile practices in collaboration with organizations such as Arvind, Raymond, Jaipur Rugs, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, and Eka.

The Accessory Design Department organised “TAOCEAN 2026”, showcasing projects in jewellery, footwear, furniture, UI/UX, and experiential design with collaborators such as Titan, Boat, Bluestone, Tata Power, and adidas.

The Master of Design Space Department showcased “D.Dots 2026” with interdisciplinary projects in service design, sustainability, and brand strategy in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Limited, and Lokus Design.

The Bachelor of Fashion Technology Department presented “TECHNOVA 2026”, highlighting projects in smart manufacturing, process optimization, and inclusive design with organizations including GUESS, Reliance Brands, and Sidney Apparels LLC.

The Fashion Communication Department hosted “COMMUNIQUE 2026”, featuring projects in branding, AI-generated filmmaking, digital storytelling, and e-commerce in collaboration with Reliance Retail, Puma, Tata Cliq, Gozoop Group, and DDB Mudra.

The Knitwear Design Department organised “KNITMODA 2026”, showcasing womenswear, menswear, activewear, and streetwear collections in association with Gokaldas Exports and Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd..

The Department of Fashion Management Studies presented “The Bottomline”, an industry-oriented academic showcase featuring projects in e-commerce, retail, supply chain management, luxury fashion, and fashion technology. Graduating students of the Master of Fashion Management programme collaborated with leading organizations such as Zouk, Aza Fashions, Pantaloons, Flipkart, Zudio, and Westside.

The celebration concluded with a spectacular graduation fashion show featuring final collections by graduating students from the Fashion Design and Knitwear Design departments. The runway showcased collections spanning couture, avant-garde, and prêt-à-porter categories, addressing themes such as sustainability, heritage textiles, and traditional crafts, while experimenting with innovative techniques including wool felting, weaving with new fibres, photoluminescent fabrics, and computerized hand flat knitting.

The Graduation Showcase “Genesis 2026” marked a significant milestone for the graduating Batch of 2026, celebrating the successful culmination of their academic journey and creative accomplishments at NIFT Mumbai. Through “Genesis 2026”, NIFT Mumbai once again reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing creative excellence, fostering innovation, strengthening industry collaboration, and preparing future professionals to lead the rapidly evolving global fashion and textile ecosystem.

****

Edgar Coelho/Parshuram Kor

Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai  pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai

(Release ID: 2264489) Visitor Counter : 50