IIT Delhi and World University of Design Launch First Functional Clothing Contest at FTC 2025

IIT Delhi and the World University of Design launched the first-ever Functional Clothing Contest as part of the 4th edition of the International Conference on Functional Textiles and Clothing (FTC 2025) in New Delhi.

IIT Delhi and World University of Design Launch First Functional Clothing Contest

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, in collaboration with the World University of Design (WUD) and the Textile & Fiber Engineering Department, hosted the 4th edition of the International Conference on Functional Textiles and Clothing (FTC 2025). The event featured the inaugural Functional Clothing Contest and Fashion Show, where participants from various universities across India and abroad, along with students from WUD, displayed their creativity, innovation, and skills. The contest was judged by an independent jury of three top fashion professionals: Payal Jain, Ruchi Tripathi, and Sartaj Mehta.

Held biannually at IIT Delhi, this conference brings together leading scientists, researchers, designers, and professionals from the textile and apparel industries. It provides a platform for discussing the latest scientific advancements, design innovations, cutting-edge technologies, emerging trends, and the challenges and opportunities in the field of Functional Textiles and Clothing.

Functional Textile and Clothing Conference

The 4th Functional Textile and Clothing Conference, organised in collaboration with IIT Delhi, proved to be the most successful edition yet, attracting 342 walk-ins over three action-packed days. Participants included representatives from 45 Indian and 10 international universities, with 109 oral presentations across 15 sessions, 40 poster presentations, and 3 plenary sessions featuring 9 keynote addresses. The conference also showcased 27 Functional Clothing Contestants, a Fashion Show, and honoured 4 Global FTC Excellence Awardees. Additionally, a Trailblazers session with 3 first-generation FTC entrepreneurs provided valuable insights and created ample networking opportunities.

12 Papers Presented and 4 Sessions Chaired at FTC 2025

At the 4th Functional Textile and Clothing Conference, 12 faculty members from WUD presented papers and chaired 4 sessions, while WUD student teams clinched all three prizes in the clothing contest. The first-place award was presented to Manya Goel, Mehek Maheswari, and Anjani for their innovative designs, followed by Palak Kamboj, Jailakshmi, and Nishita in second place, and Gauri Hans and Rupanshi Singh securing third.

The Global FTC Excellence Awards 2025 recognized achievements across several categories: Yogesh Kusumgar, Chairman of Kusumgar Corporates in Mumbai, received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Tushar Ghosh, Distinguished Professor at Wilson College of Textiles, NCSU, USA, was honoured with the Leadership in Research Award; Ashish Kansal, CEO of SMPP Industries in Delhi, was acknowledged for his Industry Impact; and Samrat Som, Creative Strategist and former Head of Creative Studio at Royal Enfield, Eicher Motors Ltd., was celebrated as the Emerging Innovator.

Prof (Dr.) Sanjay Gupta, Co-Chair of the organizing industry and Vice Chancellor of World University of Design, said, "The government's enhanced 5F Framework—from Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign—has revolutionized our approach to 'Make in India', particularly in the crucial factory-to-fashion transition. What's particularly exciting is how we're moving beyond pure aesthetics to embrace functionality as a core value driver across the entire supply chain. Through this remarkable collaboration with IIT Delhi, we've created not just a conference, but a dynamic ecosystem where designers and researchers can cross-pollinate ideas with industry veterans. This synergy is precisely what's needed to propel India's textile sector into its next phase of innovation and global leadership."

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