Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF) hosted its annual graduating fashion show, Portfolio 2012, sending the collections of its rising stars down the runway on Saturday night at a glittering ceremony in the national capital. Over 100 students from the institute presented a dazzling show with creations that showcased their aesthetic and technical prowess through designs in front of an eminent panel of industry experts including guest of honor, renowned designer, Ashish Soni.
A signature event of Pearl Academy of Fashion for 19 years, this one-of-a-kind event has showcased the work of PAF students pursuing their goals in fashion and other industries. Portfolio has been established as one of the most sought after events in the fashion and design industry as it provides a platform for students to showcase their flair, versatility and innovativeness through an extensive array of outfits based on vast themes. It is the annual fashion show that showcases the creativity and ingenuity of the budding designers.
Sharad Mehra, COO, Pearl Academy of Fashion stated "Portfolio represents the ideas, techniques and design aesthetics that were honed throughout our students time at Pearl. It is the culmination of four years of learning and entwines the knowledge and skills to make a mark on the fashion world. We are proud to have students of such great caliber. I am sure they will infuse a fresh breath of innovation and design to the industry. We would like to extend the best wishes to all graduating students for a successful life."
PAF students have access to one of the most comprehensive curriculum in fashion design education in the country with the Fashion Design course offering hands-on training in not only designing but other aspects like textiles, styling, retail, etc. The students also have access to institute's global network of over 50 partners with frequent students and teacher exchanges that help students get a global perspective on fashion.
Prof. Cora Goteman, Head, Fashion Design Department said, "Our efforts to provide world-class training and exposure to students has certainly paid-off as we see a new sense of maturity emerging in our students; we are proud to see their final creations."
The evening was a glamour packed affair with an eclectic mix of celebrities and fashion designers from the industry. Leading models like Tina Chatwal, Krishna Somani, Aanchal, Donna, etc. walked the ramp for the new designers, choreographed by renowned fashion choreographer Rashmi Virmani. The design range presented by PAF students from B.A (Hons) Fashion Design, Post Graduate Fashion Design and Fashion Media Make-up consisted of 90 collections (83 collections from Delhi centre, 3 collections from Jaipur centre & 3 collections from Chennai centre and one collection showcased by 16 Fashion Media Make-up students focusing on creative makeup and hairstyling.
The fashion show was a high-energy production, showcasing the collections of graduating students, who designed across the categories of women's wear, kids wear, men's wear and evening wear, showcasing the proficiency of students, their craftsmanship, knitwear expertise and printing techniques.
Winners of Portfolio 2012 include:
| B.A. Hons Fashion Design Programme | |
| Category | Name of Student |
| Best Design Collection | Kanika Seth |
| Most Practical Collection | Gaurangana Agarwal |
| Best Avant Garde Collection | Swapnil Gupta |
| Special Jury Award | Ankit Sharma |
| PG Fashion Design | |
| Category | Name of Student |
| Best Design Collection | Apurva Agarwal & Kirti Sinha |
| Most Practical Collection | Kashika Taneja |
| Best Contemporary Ethnic Collection | Kirti Sinha |
In addition, Ahujasons, partners of Portfolio 2012 and a brand that has been at the forefront of revival of Pashminas and Indian Handicrafts for over three decades has created a special award for young souls who share the same passion - "Best Use of Traditional Skills". The award honors the designer exploring the traditional crafts, handi-skills that are a part of the culture and integral part of Indian heritage of the country, to the hilt. Mr. Utsav Malhotra from Ahujasons presented the award to Aashish Dhaka.
Portfolio 2012 was supported by Pearl Global, Little Pearls and Ahujasons.
About Pearl Academy of Fashion:
Pearl Academy of Fashion was founded in 1993. It is a leading fashion and design education institute in India. Graduates of the Academy are highly sought after in the fashion and design industry, and a number of PAF alumni are in key positions at leading design houses and fashion companies worldwide. The Academy takes pride in its high-caliber faculty, outstanding track record in student exchange, international networking and placements. Pearl Academy has four campuses located in Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai and Noida. The institution's website can be found at: www.pearlacademy.com.
