As part of its 40th Foundation Day celebrations, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will host the NIFT International Conference 2026, themed “Design for Inclusive Futures”, on 22–23 January at its Mumbai campus. The event will be attended by Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, and Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Smt Neelam Shami Rao, who will inaugurate the NIFT Timeline Wall and release a commemorative publication highlighting four decades of the institute’s milestones.
The two-day conference reflects NIFT’s long-standing contributions to fashion education, design innovation, and industry collaboration. The program will include keynote addresses by eminent experts, parallel paper sessions, panel discussions, invited papers, hands-on workshops, and student and industry exhibitions. A key feature on the evening of 22 January is “Samvaad”, an interactive session with NIFT alumni and industry professionals, alongside a masterclass at VisionNxt, NIFT’s AI- and EI-enabled fashion forecasting lab.
A curated crafts bazaar will provide delegates with the chance to observe live craft demonstrations and purchase handicrafts and handlooms directly from artisans. The conference will also showcase an exhibition by the University of the Arts London (UAL) on three India-based projects under the theme “New Landscapes”, developed in collaboration with NIFT faculty and the British Council. Participants will include representatives from Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design (New Zealand), Swiss Textile College, NSUT Delhi, NID, CEPT University, Amity University, IIAD, United World University, and NIFT.
Established in 1986, NIFT is India’s premier fashion education institution and received statutory status in 2006 through an Act of Parliament. Over the years, the institute has been instrumental in nurturing professional leadership for the textile, apparel, and allied industries, while also serving as a knowledge partner to both central and state governments. NIFT has consistently contributed to design development, sustainability, and the promotion of handlooms and handicrafts.