Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Textiles is strengthening international collaboration in the textile and fashion sector through initiatives like Bharat TEX 2025 and partnerships between NIFT and global institutions. These collaborations aim to enhance India's global competitiveness, promote sustainable practices, and expand India's presence in global textile education and research. NIFT has established collaborations with over 22 institutions across more than 14 countries, including the UK, France, Australia, and Japan.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **International Collaboration Initiatives:**
* The Ministry supports Export Promotion Councils/Associations in organizing Bharat TEX 2025 to showcase the Indian textiles value chain and promote India as a sourcing and investment destination.
* NIFT has formal collaborations with over 22 institutions in more than 14 countries via MoUs.
* **Nature of Collaborations:**
* Collaborations support student and faculty exchanges, joint research, dual-degree and twinning programs, collaborative curriculum development, and global academic immersion.
* Notable partnerships include FIT New York, UAL UK, ENSAIT France, and Bunka Japan.
* Over the past five years, more than 100 NIFT students and faculty have participated in international exchange programs.
* **Impact on Global Competitiveness:**
* International engagements foster academic excellence, promote innovation, and enable knowledge transfer.
* Exposure to global design sensibilities, technological advancements, and emerging trends is facilitated.
* Curricula are aligned with international standards to equip Indian graduates for global markets.
* **Promotion of Sustainable Practices:**
* NIFT leverages international partnerships to promote sustainable and innovative practices.
* Collaborations focus on sustainable design strategies, ethical production, circular economy models, and textile systems, with relevance to SMEs.
* **Integration of Sustainability Frameworks:**
* NIFT integrates global sustainability frameworks into academic programs and research initiatives.
* Joint modules on sustainable fashion and textiles are being developed with institutions like FIT New York and UAL UK.
* A collaborative initiative with FTTI at UAL UK focuses on circularity, responsible fashion, and cultural sustainability.
* Faculty participate in global forums on sustainable textiles and climate-conscious fashion practices.
* Students are involved in design projects, international exhibitions, and exchange programs highlighting sustainability.
Impact Analysis:
* **NIFT Students and Faculty:**
* Impact: Increased opportunities for international exchange programs, exposure to global design trends, and participation in collaborative research and curriculum development.
* Action Required: Participate in exchange programs, engage in joint research initiatives, and integrate sustainable practices into their work.
* **Indian Textile and Fashion Industry:**
* Impact: Enhanced global competitiveness through access to international knowledge, technologies, and markets; promotion of India as a sourcing and investment destination.
* Action Required: Participate in Bharat TEX 2025 to showcase capabilities and explore collaboration opportunities; adopt sustainable practices to align with global standards.
* **Global Partner Institutions:**
* Impact: Opportunities for collaboration with NIFT on research, curriculum development, and student/faculty exchanges; access to the Indian textile and fashion market.
* Action Required: Engage in collaborative projects with NIFT, participate in faculty and student exchange programs, and share expertise in sustainable practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat TEX 2025: A Global Mega Textile Event organized to showcase the strength of the Indian textiles value chain.
NIFT: National Institute of Fashion Technology, an Indian textile and fashion institution.
FIT New York: Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, a global partner institution collaborating with NIFT.
UAL UK: University of the Arts London, United Kingdom, a global partner institution collaborating with NIFT.
ENSAIT France: École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles, France, a global partner institution collaborating with NIFT.
Bunka Japan: Bunka Fashion College, Japan, a global partner institution collaborating with NIFT.
Ministry of Textiles: The Indian Governmental Ministry responsible for the textile sector.
FTTI at UAL UK: Fashion Textiles and Technology Institute at the University of the Arts London, United Kingdom; involved in a collaborative initiative with NIFT focusing on circularity, responsible fashion, and cultural sustainability
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 452
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025
STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN TEXTILE SECTOR
452. SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:
Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री
be pleased to state :
(a) the details of the initiatives being undertaken to promote and strengthen international collaboration in
the textile and fashion sector between Indian textile and fashion institutions like NIFT and global
partners;
(b) the manner in which the said initiatives are likely to contribute to the global competitiveness of
India's textiles and fashion sector;
(c) whether there are any plans to leverage such international collaborations to promote sustainable and
innovative textile practices, while expanding India's presence in global textile education and research;
and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
उत्तर
ANSWER
वस्त्र मंत्री (श्री गिररराज स हं )
MINISTER OF TEXTILES
(SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)
(a): Ministry has supported Export Promotion Councils/Associations in organizing a Global Mega
Textile Event i.e. Bharat TEX 2025 to showcase the strength of the Indian textiles value chain,
highlighting the latest progress/ innovations in textile & fashion Industry and positioning India as the
most preferred destination for sourcing and investment in textile sector.
NIFT has established formal collaborations with over 22 institutions across more than 14 countries,
including the UK France, Australia, Japan, the United States, New Zealand, Finland.. These
collaborations are governed through MoUs that support student and faculty exchanges, joint research
initiatives, dual-degree and twinning programs, collaborative curriculum development, and global
academic immersion. Notable engagements include partnerships with institutions such as FIT (New
York), UAL (UK), ENSAIT (France), and Bunka (Japan). Over the past five years, approximately 100
plus NIFT students and many faculty members have participated in international exchange programs,
with reciprocal participation from global partner institutions.
(b): These international engagements enhance India's position in the global textile and fashion sector
by fostering academic excellence, promoting innovation, and enabling knowledge transfer. They expose
students and faculty to global design sensibilities, technological advancements, and emerging trends. By
aligning curricula with international standards, these collaborations equip Indian graduates with the skills
and insights needed to compete effectively in global markets and strengthen India's reputation as a hub
for creative and technical expertise in textiles and fashion.(c): NIFT is actively leveraging its international partnerships to promote sustainable and innovative
practices in fashion and textile education. Several collaborations are focused on sustainable design
strategies, ethical production, circular economy models, and textile systems, with specific relevance to
SMEs based ecosystems.
(d): Through its international collaborations, NIFT has begun integrating global sustainability
frameworks into academic programs and research initiatives. Examples include:
Ongoing engagement with institutions like FIT (New York) and UAL (UK) to develop joint
modules on sustainable fashion and textiles and semester exchange a collaborative initiative with
FTTI at UAL (UK) focusing on circularity, responsible fashion, and cultural sustainability;
Faculty participation in global forums on sustainable textiles and climate-conscious fashion
practices;
Student involvement in design projects, international exhibitions, and exchange programs
highlighting sustainability.
****