Govt schoolkids to don NIFT uniforms

Date 3 Aug 2012 11:36:05 IST , Deccan Herald    Tags: Fashion Design

The students of municipal corporation-run primary schools and thousands of its employees would soon don designer uniforms as the East Delhi Municpal Corporation has decided to get their attire designed by the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology.   

Apart from the 2.4 lakh students studying in the primary schools of east corporation, around 15,000 employees under group D would also get the newly-designed dresses. 

Officials said the initiatve is aimed at transforming the organisational culture of the corporation.

“We already provide uniforms to the group D employees and students. The initiative is just to give them a new and better look. We have written to NIFT to design the uniforms. They have already formed a project team and we are expecting a sample soon,” said East Corporation commissioner SS Yadav. 

Two uniforms

As per plans, the NIFT designers would design two set of clothings – one for the summer and one for the winter season. 

While the coporation provides Rs 500 as cash transfer per year in lieu of uniforms to all the students, the dresses of the group D employees are procurred and distributed by the civic body. 

“The students would have to get the clothes stitched as per the design appoved by the corporation,” Yadav said. 

National Institute of Fashion Technology chips in to train women in Naxal areas

Date 23 Aug 2012 13:10:56 IST , Times of India    Tags: Fashion Design

Some chic and trendy designs created by the National Institute of Fashion Technology will be reproduced by women in Naxal-infested areas here, on bed sheets and towels they weave.

Disclosing this to TOI, handloom and textiles department assistant director Veerupakshappa said the department has sought Rs 1 crore from the state government for constructing community weaving centres at Nemmaru and Hulugarubylu villages in Sringeri taluk.

The new bed sheets and towels are expected to hit the markets by September under a new brand name.

The handloom corporation has already trained 60 women in the villages of Gurige, Uduthalu, Nemmaru, Hulugarubylu, Hanchinakodige and Belagodukodige. They have been given looms to weave ordinary bed sheets, towels and polyester shirt materials that will be bought back by the Handloom Development Corporation.

These women are now being trained by expert weavers to weave the colourful designs provided by NIFT. But there are some problems with the programme as trainers, who travel from Jamakhandi, feel the Rs 6,000 renumeration is a pittance. They say the department should pay them at least Rs 10,000. Trainers, who are already working in different villages, should be provided with vehicles to reach the villages that are in the foothills of Kudremukh, is another demand.

While these issues are sorted out, the rhythmic sound of the shuttle as it moves from one end to another, fills the houses as women are happy about having found a means to fend for themselves.

NIFT makeover for the humble hanger

Date 14 Aug 2012 11:39:00 IST , Dnaindia    Tags: Fashion Design

A recent pass-out of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has turned the simple yet immensely useful hanger into an eco-friendly tool. The hanger developed by Nishant Fogaat, a student of Department Of Fashion Technology, 2008-12, is not only bio-degradable but also has a host of other qualities. The design, developed by Fogaat as part of his research project ‘brand sustainability in retail platform’, can be folded to save space and also accommodate more than one garment. In fact he has already bagged an order for his product. “The hanger is made out of a material that has to be locally manufactured from the pulp of used cartons and newspapers. Hence it is bio-degradable,” said Fogaat, who along with his business partner Nikhil Bajpai is also in talks with some retail giants for his product. He said that as against the plastic hangers, that come in monotonous colours, his hangers have varied designs and can take a weight of up to 10 kg. “They last for five years and cost around Rs13 to 17 per piece. Plastic ones cost around Rs13,” said Fogaat. He has even applied for a patent for the hanger that has a folding down mechanism. “The folding hanger will ensure that the folders don’t take up much space when not in use,” said Fogaat. He has also applied for copyright protection for a hanger design of his that is meant exclusively for undergarments. Talking about the design, professor at the institute, Pavan Godiawala, said that it isn’t often that students’ designs get immediate orders. “But this design was welcomed by several people in the retail industry. In fact, it is rare for a student to get an order for a product so soon after passing out,” he said.

New textile policy, a boon to Maharashtra

Date 8 Aug 2012 11:17:52 IST , the hindu business line    Tags: Fashion Design

At a time when industries are holding back their investment, the textile industry in Maharashtra is swimming against the tide.

In the last four months, Maharashtra has managed attract several small investments aggregating Rs 2,101 crore in 218 textile projects.

These investments have come under the new State textile policy. The approvals for new textile projects are being fast-tracked under the new policy.

The policy had come into effect in April and most of the investments are for setting up new weaving, power loom, cotton spinning, and ginning units.

A senior Maharashtra Government official said these projects have managed to get funding from the banks and have achieved financial closure.

In the coming three years, the investment (Rs 2,101 crore) will create employment for about 16,000 persons in the State.

The projects need only to get their cleareance by banks under the Centre’s Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS). Once banks approve the project, the State Government approval is automatic, the official said.

TUFS approval process is robust. All technical and financial aspects are properly examined before banks give final clearance, the official said.

Interest subsidy and capital subsidy for projects coming up in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Northern Maharashtra, are the attracting a number of companies under the new policy, the official said.
Interest subsidy

Interest subsidy is offered for seven years. The subsidy works out to five per cent of the interest cost. On the total capital investment, the State Government provides 10 per cent capital subsidy.

When contacted, Maharashtra’s Textile Secretary, Mr Sunil Porwal, said the policy was getting a positive response from the textile industry. By the end of the current fiscal about Rs 10,000 crore investment and 1,000 new projects are expected in the State.

NIFT selects OptiTex for knitwear design program

Date 8 Aug 2012 11:14:17 IST , fibre2fashion    Tags: Fashion Design

OptiTex, the leading provider of 2D and 3D CAD/CAM and Virtual Prototyping software solutions has been chosen by National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), the premier Institute of Design, Management and Technology, to be part of the study program in all the NIFT centers offering the four year Knitwear Design Program.

The process of installing OptiTex has begun at three NIFT centers: Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. NIFT joins the respected list of worldwide educational institutes that have already implemented OptiTex.

NIFT provides a common platform for fashion education, research and training, and is one of India's leading fashion technology institutes. Incorporating OptiTex 2D and 3D software solutions to the study program was one more important step taken by NIFT to introduce the knitwear students with the latest technology in the fashion industry. Students would now have a smooth transition into a professional role at one of the many prospering export houses and factories around the country.

In an interview in June 2012, Prof. Kripal Mathur, Chairperson, Knitwear Design Dept. NIFT, said: "The introduction of OptiTex in the curriculum is a real breakthrough. The highlight of OptiTex is the live simulation which would help students of the Knitwear Design Department to visualize the designed product in real time. I think OptiTex will motivate and add more excitement in the design development work of the students."

"OptiTex's presence in the Indian textile market is on an accelerated growth path." Said Mr. Ran Kramer, Managing Director of OptiTex India and Sri Lanka. "We are proud to be at the forefront of the industry's technology and to be chosen by a leading academic institute to provide the next generation of professionals in India with access to Optitex 2D and 3D software solutions".

OptiTex is the leading provider of 2D and 3D CAD/CAM, and Virtual Prototyping software solutions for the apparel, automotive, aeronautics, industrial fabrics and upholstery industries.

sample post

kikl9lo9l9

Designer uniforms for Olympic Games' players

Ralph Lauren has designed unform for Team USA, Stella McCartney for Britain, and Armani and Prada for Italy. But most designs don't come without controversy or criticism National uniforms for the Olympics rarely fail to elicit extreme emotions among fashion critics. While the Indian uniform designs appear far from inspiring, there's more drama in countries where the uniforms have been designed by international designers. Designed in the US, made in China When Ralph Lauren introduced the uniforms to be sported by Team USA in the London Games' opening and closing ceremonies, his designs got a mixed reaction. While some in the US criticized them for harking back to Gatsby's America, others said they were suave as can be. But whether fashion critics loved or loathed Ralph Lauren's designs for Team USA heading for the London Olympics is now secondary. For, Lauren's designed-in-the-US, made-in-China uniforms have come under heavy fire for outsourcing jobs to China, when unemployment in the US is reported to be above 8%. Such is the anger in the US against the made-in-China tag for the national team's uniform that the majority leader in the Senate, Harry Reid has even demanded that the uniforms be burnt. That's not happening, though, for it's too late in the day to have the uniforms re-manufactured in the US now, with the London Games less than 10 days away. But six Democrats say they intend to introduce a legislation in the Senate next week that would make it mandatory by law to manufacture ceremonial uniforms for national teams within the country. But till the Team USA Made In America Act, 2012 - as it will be called - is passed, the US has Ralph Lauren's word that the uniforms for the Winter Olympics in 2014 will be entirely home-manufactured. According to statement by the designer brand, "We are honored to continue our longstanding relationship with the United States Olympic Committee in the 2014 Olympic Games by serving as an Official Outfitter of the US Olympic and Paralympic teams. Ralph Lauren promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government addressing the issue of increasing manufacturing in the United States and has committed to producing the Opening and Closing ceremony Team USA uniforms in the United States that will be worn for the 2014 Olympic Games." Give me red! Stella McCartney's uniforms for the Great Britain team received adverse comments not for lacking in the design department, but for not sporting enough of the national colours. The design was thrashed for being "too blue", and not having enough red. British loyalists weren't too lenient while making their point on Facebook. "Badly designed. Not enough red. They don't emphasis (sic) the athletes physique. Design by McCommittee?" wrote one on a picture of the designs posted on the social networking site. Another one wrote on Stella McCartney's FB page, "an absolute disgrace .... you should be ashamed and embarrassed at that abomination ... the GB flag is RED white and blue, NOT blue, grey and blue ... typical self centered artist trying to 'be different' rather than designing for the purpose. Stella McARTney (sic) hang your head." The designer finally took to her microblogging account to justify the choice of colours. She wrote: "I see many feel as strongly about the Union flag as I do! The design actually uses more red & shows more flag than any Team GB kit since '84." Armani, Prada for Italy Giorgio Armani has designed the uniforms for Team Italy for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games. Like McCartney, he steered clear of Italy's flag colours while designing the dress. But how did he manage to dodge the critics for his white and midnight blue creation? He made up for the lack of the national colours by emblazoning words from the country's national anthem on the insides of the jackets. "This is going to be the most fashionable Olympic Games ever," said Armani at the launch of his Olympics designs. And sure enough, not much later, Prada stepped in not just to dress up Italy's sailing team, but also to sponsor it. Thumbs up Bob Marley's daughter, Cedella Marley has designed the much approved uniforms for Jamaican Olympics team. For this once, no controversy or criticism. Just a big thumbs up from everyone.

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