Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, recently inaugurated the new permanent campus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Shillong, marking a significant milestone for fashion and textile education in Northeast India. The inauguration ceremony coincided with the 12th convocation ceremony for the 2024 graduating class, where Singh congratulated the new graduates and shared insights on the future of the textile industry.

During his address, Singh highlighted Northeast India’s growing impact on the ₹45,000 crore handloom and textile export sector, emphasizing the region’s potential to reshape India’s textile industry through its rich cultural heritage, artisanal skills, and commitment to sustainability. He stressed the need for integrating cutting-edge technology and innovation within the curriculum to empower students in preserving and advancing their unique creative expressions in a competitive global market. Artificial intelligence, Singh noted, is expected to play an essential role in this transformation by assisting in design, production efficiency, and trend prediction.

The Minister also commended VisionNxt, NIFT’s indigenous trend forecasting initiative, which he described as a forward-thinking project set to revolutionize the fashion landscape in India. VisionNxt aims to enable Indian designers to keep up with global trends while maintaining a focus on Indian traditions and aesthetics. Additionally, Singh unveiled plans to establish NIFT campuses worldwide, an initiative that aligns with India’s strategy to strengthen the “Bharat” brand in sustainable fashion, ultimately boosting India’s global reputation in eco-conscious apparel and textile production.

Singh’s announcements and the inauguration of the new NIFT campus are expected to further solidify India’s role as a global leader in sustainable and culturally rooted fashion, particularly highlighting the talents and resources of Northeast India.