NIFT centre to take up cluster development

The Gandhinagar centre of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), an initiative of the ministry of textiles, will take up various cluster development projects in association with the Gujarat government during the next few years.

The projects will be on design development, technological upgradation and skill development to assist the craftsmen in economic sustainability.

The Research, Development and Training (RDT) centre of the NIFT is expected to play a crucial role in the projects.

The centre was set up with the financial assistance from the state government under its Critical Infrastructure Balancing Scheme.

The RDT is working on research, design, product development, technology and skill upgradation related to the garment industry.

The centre is imparting training to garment operators and supervisors.

At present, NIFT is conducting a comprehensive training programme for women members of the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), in sewing, cutting and finishing.

"We have set up an industrial training-cum-design development centre in the department of accessory design with the financial assistance of the industries commissionerate of the state government. The objective of the centre is to guide the industry in production of prototypes and train technical personnel in design development and prototyping. Rapid prototyping equipment with the required software has been installed at the centre," said an official.

"Following the impressive results that the existing cluster development projects posted, we have now decided to focus more on such projects and the state government has agreed to work with NIFT," the official said.

Recently, textile design students of the NIFT undertook a craft documentation study, visiting Kutch, Rajkot, Patan, Ahmedabad, Surat and Bharuch.

The study report has been submitted to the commissioner of cottage industries, government of Gujarat.