Fashion your career

Gauri Chhabra

In the fluid world order that we witness around us today, one thing that flows and rides along the waves of time is Fashion. Today, it is one field that attracts students from all quarters. The Fashion Design courses can be pursued at the undergraduate as well as the postgraduate level. Students can also go for diploma, advanced diploma and certificate courses.Streams :Following are the streams in which the students can choose to have their specialization:Textile ManagementTextile DesigningFashion Illustration and DesignFashion CommunicationFashion TechnologyFashion Business ManagementHome Textile ManagementFashion and Apparel DesignClothing TechnologyFashion Retail ManagementFashion Design and MerchandisingFashion Designing and Garment ConstructionApparel Production EngineeringDress Designing and TailoringEligibility Criteria for Fashion Designing CoursesThe minimum eligibility criteria required to apply for fashion designing courses is 50% score in the 10+2 examinations.Fashion Designing Entrance ExamsThe selection process for fashion designing courses differs from one institute to the other. As far as reputed institutions like NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) are concerned, the admission forms have to be submitted by the last week of January and the entrance examination takes place in the month of February. For the National Institute of Design, the test is at the all-India level.Some of the popular entrance tests have been listed below:National Institute of Design (NID)National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF)Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED)National Entrance Examination for Design (NEED)NIFT Entrance ExamA holistic input on generic design with more focused approach towards apparel inculcates the ability to develop and channelize creativity. The Fashion Design specialisation offered by the Department of Fashion & Apparel hones design sensitisation, which balances global fashion aesthetics with an Indian soul. It addresses needs of the export market in couture in India, expanding and categorising apparel design into niche segments. In tandem with the shifts in the industry where design has become even more significant, the students are trained to anticipate and address relevant concerns and issues. A logical, sequential, hands-on experience enables students to conceptualise designs, make patterns, drape and construct garments of impeccable quality. Students will be introduced to various aspects of Fashion Design education through subjects like Fashion Illustration and Design, Fashion Studies, Elements of Textiles, Surface Development Techniques and History of Costumes. Introduction to Pattern Making and Garment Construction contributes to Integrated Term Project. An industry internship during the year is an invaluable experience for students to interface between design and technicalities of production. Focus is on niche specialisations and electives with emphasis on Research and Development and Design Collection.Career Cursor:Students who have graduated with fashion designing can work as: fashion consultants, fashion designers, fashion assistants, sketching assistants, merchandising executives, illustrators, stylists, and fashion coordinators.Apparel marketing and MerchandisingKnitwear Design and TechnologyMedia ProductionLeather and Garment Design and TechnologyTextile Design and Development.These are some of the Colleges in Punjab (not in any order) that offer Fashion Design Courses:Colleges in PunjabWLC College India - ChandigarhMORPH Academy, ChandigarhGovernment College for Girls-42, ChandigarhHindu Kanya College, KapurthalaInstitute of Technology and Future Management Trends, ChandigarhRamgarhia Girls College, LudhianaMultani Mal Modi College, PatialaThe Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology, MohaliGovernment Institute of Garment Technology, AmritsarPunjab Institute of Textile Technology, AmritsarBeant College of Engineering & Technology, GurdaspurD. A. V. College, HoshiarpurHans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, JalandharKanya Maha Vidyalaya, JalandharSikkim Manipal University, Amritsar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, LudhianaContinental Institute for International Studies (CIIS), PunjabNorthern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT Mohali), LudhianaKhalsa College for Woman, LudhianaBBK DAV College for Women, AmritsarDr. B. R Ambedkar Regional Engineering College, Jalandhar