We at JD institute take immense pleasure in announcing that the Orientation ceremony for the year 2019 was held successfully on 22nd August, 2019 at the prestigious India Islamic Centre, Lodhi Garden, New

Delhi comprising a number of sub-events including inaugural introductory speeches by the Executive Director of JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Mrs. Rupal Dalal, selected members of the alumni, respective representatives from the departments of Fashion and Interior among others.

Delhi comprising a number of sub-events including inaugural introductory speeches by the Executive Director of JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Mrs. Rupal Dalal, selected members of the alumni, respective representatives from the departments of Fashion and Interior among others.

Interview session which witnessed a series of industry-oriented topics spanning from latest trends in domains of fashion, spatial design in general, visual merchandising, start-up culture, sustainable design (need of the hour) ideas along with the feasibility on application.

With the session commencing by exploring the intriguing idea of how the design industry is responding with the changing socio-economic dynamics within the current situation of the country and the direction its headed to, the responses from all of the panel members had been overwhelmingly optimistic. All panel members unanimously agreed on the growth potential in the new India with a sharp inclination towards the common idea of ‘Think global, use local’ philosophy …in other words a celebration of going back to roots. That translates to- extensive use of locally available materials, traditional craftsmanship, techniques emphasizing on context, viz. shift towards vernacular designs by using local sourced materials like rammed earth, indigenous design elements (for interior/ architecture), use of Indian textile within a globally accepted format (in fashion).

A major life-altering decision that students have to undertake post study is planning for the future. Whether to join an already established firm, going for further specializations or to set up a start-up. Needless to say, each choice presents an array of opportunities, certain challenges and a few inevitable stumbles. And if just the selection process itself is not daunting enough, there is the additional anxiety of financial setbacks associated with certain risk factors, in case of start-ups.

Ar. Nilanjan Bhowal and Ms. Payal Jain both were pretty candid in recommending students not to venture into the start-up market immediately after the graduation and work for a couple of years to acquire the know-hows of the professional world, to bypass the trial-error phase not at their own expense. A few years in an established firm will not just enrich them with the knowledge of the industry but essentially it will allocate them the necessary time required to create their own ‘micro niche’, to develop their preferred style of work characteristically by experimenting with building materials, different types of fabrics … by building a ‘mental vocabulary’. Whereas, Editor Mr. Jamal Shaikh strongly encouraged the new batch to investigate new avenues within their field of studies or outside, to remain flexible, not to be fearful of experimentation, criticism or failure, keeping up with the pace of the industry and to harness the benefits of social media in order to employ its fullest potential to their advantage. >

Unlike a traditional event, a discussion on design would always remain inconclusive without taking into consideration the subject of Sustainability, especially in the current situation worsened by inadequately managed policies on Climate Crisis. Like Ms. Jain aptly said, “The earth is the only planet to live. There is no ‘Planet B’”. And, a shift in paradigm to create more environmentally sound designs, whether in a built from or in terms choosing the right textile, is no longer just an alternative, it’s a necessity. As wholeheartedly agreed by all panelists, selection of right materials is a significant First Step and may go a long way towards creating an earth-friendly future. For instances, by being mindful on a daily basis, keeping our disposable mentality in check, limiting the use of single-use synthetic materials, finding a second life beyond the purpose for any material, recycling. In Ar. Bhowal’s words, “importance of 3Rs- Reduce + Recycle + Reuse”.

In other words, in order to pursue a holistic growth in a successful career, its crucial to look beyond the conventional curriculum with an open inquisitive mindset, exploit all the opportunities offered by the JD Institute of fashion Technology viz., travelling (JD Global program), multi-disciplinary collaborative initiatives, active participation in the voluntary workshops, examining other forms of self-expressions like music, performance art, sports and more. And its common knowledge that inspiration comes in many forms and it would be unwise to restric oneself to just one.