INIFD Vashi provides several opportunities to upscale the learning curve, says Swapna Chavan

After I got a distinction in Class 10, I opted for Science. After doing my post-graduation in the same stream, I worked with a company for a year and then got married. After taking a break for a couple of years, I thought to start again. I was always interested in art like sketching, painting, and so on. Art has always been my passion. Therefore, I decided to pursue my further studies in Fashion Designing. I researched a lot of institutes and finally decided to pursue my post-graduation in Fashion Designing from INIFD Vashi - International Institute of Fashion Design Vashi. I heard about INIFD Vashi from one of my relatives as she was pursuing some course from the same institute. She gave me great reviews about the course curriculum, faculty, workshops and the kind of exposure that she got during her tenure in the form of an industrial visit, fashion shows, etc. Before finalising a fashion designing institute, I asked the following questions to make an informed decision:

1)      What do I want to do in future in terms of Fashion Designing?

2)      What sort of degree will help me to achieve that goal of mine?

3)      Which institute(s) provides the degree or certification that I am looking for?

I did not opt for any coaching classes and did my research on the institutes that fit my bill. In the end I chose INIFD Vashi on the basis of word of mouth and Google reviews.

During the admission process, special emphasis was given to my overall academic performance and my professional experience by the institute. INIFD Vashi is an entrance-exam-free college and the faculty/ management are dedicated to help their students make an impact in the Fashion Designing industry by providing a balance of classroom learning, online learning and real-world exposure, which means that INIFD Vashi helps you to polish your resume even before you graduate.

I would say that it is not a pre-requisite to know how to draw illustrations to become a designer whether you are a student or a professional but having an eye for creativity is one of the most important aspects to be a good fashion designer.

I always like to attend all the lectures which are conducted at the institute related to Fashion Designing. Teachers are extremely talented and passionate which encourages me and my peers to take more interest in the subjects.  They also help in building a strong base. Apart from lectures, there are a lot of other activities which goes around like window display. Each student and a batch get an opportunity to participate in it. It’s an opportunity to showcase your creativity at the next level. For instance, in March 2020, we created an eye-catching Visual Merchandising on Warli Art in which we represented the pure form of Tribal Art in Maharashtra.

Every year, we have an annual fashion show wherein the students are involved in each and every part from planning till the execution process along with the assigned mentors. Also, there are other opportunities like Lakme Launchpad, Lakme Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and London Fashion Week. There are many other opportunities which INIFD Vashi offers its students. Complete attention is given by all the teachers and the Centre Head throughout these activities.

In my opinion, INIFD Vashi is probably one of the best institutes for Fashion Designing. My experience with this institution has been amazing so far. I have learned a lot. The teachers always push us to think out of the box. As a person, I have grown a lot in terms of knowledge and practical experience which helps in boosting my confidence. Since several opportunities are provided by INIFD Vashi at every step, it further helps in upscaling the learning curves. One can either start their own business, work in the cloth manufacturing companies or at boutiques; one can work as an illustrator or as a faculty and many more. Whatever your area of  interest is, the teachers are there for guidance at each step.

I plan to start my own business after completing the course in Fashion Designing.

About the author

Swapna Chavan is currently pursuing Masters in Fashion Designing from INIFD Vashi. She has completed her BSc and MSc. Her hobbies are sketching, dancing and cooking. She is also learning Kathak from the past four years.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha