National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai proudly hosted Graduation Showcase “Genesis 2026” on 22nd May 2026. The grand event celebrated the academic achievements, creativity, innovation, and industry readiness of over 413 graduating students from 06 undergraduate and 02 postgraduate departments.
The event was inaugurated by Smt. Vrunda Manohar Desai (IRS), 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, highlighted the institution’s commitment to equipping students with entrepreneurial, innovative, and tech-driven skills aligned with changing consumer dynamics.
Addressing the gathering at the Graduation Showcase seminar on “Future of Indian Textile Industry in the Era of AI”, the Chief Guest Smt. Vrunda Manohar Desai inspired graduating students to become future leaders of India’s textile. The Chief Guest 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 be used as a tool rather than a replacement for human creativity, the address highlighted the importance of preserving India’s rich textile heritage while building globally recognized Indian brands. The Chief Guest also spoke about the strength of India’s textile sector, government initiatives such as PLI schemes and the National Fibre Scheme, and the growing importance of sustainability, technical textiles, and circularity in shaping a globally competitive and environmentally responsible future for the industry.
One of the major highlights of the event was the seminar on “Future of the Indian Textile Industry in the Era of AI” in association with Suvin Expo LLP, the knowledge partner for the seminar, 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 Mr. Avinash Mayekar, Managing Director, Suvin Expo LLP. The distinguished panellists included Mr. Kapil Pathare, Deputy Managing Director, VIP Clothing Ltd., Dr. G. V. Aras, Strategic Advisor and Mentor, ITA Technologietransfer GmbH & APS GmbH, Dr. Vijay Gotmare, Representative Director, India, Frontier Cool Inc. (Taiwan), Mr. Shaligram, Consultant, Reliance Retail, Bengaluru.
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. The experts collectively agreed that AI would not replace human creativity but would empower designers and manufacturers with advanced tools for faster innovation and better decision-making. The session concluded with valuable insights on the need for interdisciplinary education, data literacy, and industry-oriented AI integration to prepare future professionals for the rapidly evolving textile and fashion ecosystem.
As part of Genesis 2026, the graduation showcase served as a vibrant platform for graduating students to present their innovative projects and design collections across diverse disciplines. The Fashion Design Department showcased “FASHIONOVA 2026” with industry-linked collections developed in collaboration with brands such as 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 association with organizations including Arvind, Raymond, Jaipur Rugs, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, and Eka. The Accessory Design Department organized “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 industry-oriented 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 organized “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, while the showcase also encouraged networking and industry interaction among students, alumni, recruiters, and industry professionals.
The celebration concluded with a spectacular graduation fashion show. The runway showcased the highly anticipated final collections of graduating students from the Fashion Design and Knitwear Design departments. Each student explored a distinct concept and developed collections comprising five to seven ensembles across categories such as couture, avant-garde and prêt-à-porter. The collections addressed contemporary themes including sustainability, heritage textiles and traditional crafts, while also experimenting with innovative techniques such as wool felting, weaving with new fibres, photo luminescent fabrics, and the development of unconventional silhouettes, textures, 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 National Institute of Fashion Technology. 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.
