NIFT Determined to Bring Khadi Back in Fashion

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at Mangattuparamba is determined to bring Khadi back in fashion.

This mission was taken up by NIFT under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) launched by the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises to make traditional industries more productive, and the aim is to increase the number of artisans in the field of khadi production, said NIFT director Rajeev Pant.

"Nowadays khadi artisans are into weaving only, and we want to introduce them to garment making as well," he said. "We make creative intervention in terms of design and skill upgrading apart from helping them in brand development, and this would increase their revenue."

NIFT’s efforts can be seen coming to life as the progress recorded is splendid. When the NIFT took over this project last year, there were only 674 artisans to get training and now another fifty people have joined. The aim is to increase the number to at least 1000 by the time the three-year project concludes. This way the artisans from young generation could be attracted to the field and design innovation and branding would increase their revenue, too, said NIFT officials.

Khadi and handloom have great export possibility if it is designed and branded properly, said the NIFT officials.