The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), as part of its NIFT@40 celebrations, hosted the Curtain Raiser for the NIFT International Conference 2026 at Lokus Design, Pune. The event formally launched academic preparations for the international conference scheduled for 22–23 January 2026 at the NIFT Mumbai campus.
Importantly, the conference is positioned as the final major academic initiative of NIFT’s 40th Foundation Year. It reflects the institute’s sustained contribution to design education, research, and interdisciplinary learning over four decades.
Leadership and Key Participants
The programme was led by Prof. Dr. Ajit Kumar Khare, Director, NIFT Mumbai, and Prof. Dr. Rupa Agarwal, Conference Chair. In addition, the event featured Prof. Prasanna Halbe, design and UX practitioner; Mr. Shekhar Badve, Founder and CEO, Lokus Design; and Ms. Anita Iyer, Founder, Ekansh Trust.
Meanwhile, the conference is being held under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Sharmila Dua, Former Dean, NIFT, and Dr. Sudha Dhingra, Professor, NIFT and Director, Centre of Excellence for Khadi. Notably, Prof. Dr. Sharmila Dua is also serving as Senior Reviewer, strengthening academic rigour.
Conference Vision and Academic Focus
Addressing the audience, Prof. Dr. Ajit Kumar Khare reflected on NIFT’s journey since its establishment in 1986. He highlighted its evolution into a national institution with 20 campuses across India. Furthermore, he noted that the conference will bring together academics, practitioners, students, and alumni through papers, keynote sessions, fashion showcases, and collaborative forums.
Similarly, Prof. Dr. Rupa Agarwal emphasised that the conference theme, “Design for Inclusive Futures,” strongly aligns with NIFT’s institutional values. She explained that NIFT’s academic work extends beyond fashion into inclusive design practices. The four thematic tracks—Accessibility, Usability, Ethics, and Equity—are supported by a robust peer-review framework to ensure depth and quality.
Perspectives on Research, Sustainability, and Inclusion
Speaking on research quality, Prof. Prasanna Halbe observed strong academic maturity across submissions. These covered areas such as craft and culture, sustainability, inclusivity, digital experience, and advanced design technologies. He added that NIFT’s research effectively integrates theory, field engagement, data, and technology.
At the same time, Mr. Shekhar Badve discussed evolving interpretations of sustainability and ethics in the Indian design context. He stressed the need for critical dialogue around development and its beneficiaries. Additionally, he suggested policy-oriented white papers as a way to strengthen design’s role in governance.
Addressing accessibility, Ms. Anita Iyer highlighted the importance of inclusive design across infrastructure, communication, and digital systems. She also emphasised the use of person-first language. According to her, true inclusion must extend beyond fashion into institutions and technologies.
NIFT@40 Initiatives and Forward Momentum
As part of the broader NIFT@40 celebrations, the Curtain Raiser aligned with ongoing academic and industry engagements. These include participation in Bharat Tex, curriculum review discussions, craft and cluster initiatives such as Chhaap, and alumni-led academic exchanges.
Ultimately, the event reinforced NIFT’s position as a leading knowledge institution. It also laid the foundation for deeper dialogue on ethical, inclusive, and socially responsive design at the upcoming International Conference.
