India is a diverse country with a wide spectrum of fabric, fashion, design and
apparels. The sector directly employs approximately 45 million people and
contributes to 3% of GDP. It accounts for 12% of exports and 13% of
manufacturing.
The Indian fabric is epitomized by the Father of Nation by way of ‘Khadi” that
signified the “Swadeshi Movement”. Khadi is still being propagated and
concurrently the country has modernized the entire industry. Today we see
Indians purchasing branded clothes from malls, hosting fashion pageants,
designing and manufacturing apparel’s that are exported and are world class.
As in case of all sectors, technology is fast integrating and changing the profile
of the textile and fashion industry. Today customers are not only focused on
quality but also on sustainability. Customers are demanding traceability, labour
dignity and recycling of clothes and fabric.
AIFD has to excel in all fields of textile design and fashion industry and prepare
and propel students to be “industry ready”. Our students must be the best
with an eye on sustainability and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the
sector..
Quality education at AIFD that inculcates competitiveness, competency and
confidence will be the key to emerge as a multi-disciplinary College as
envisaged in State Education Policy-2024.
I call upon the college to focus on the above and continue to do a yeoman
service towards the wards and families of armed forces.
Maj Gen VT Mathew AVSM YSM
GOC, Karnataka & Kerala Sub Area, Chairman AWES Institutions Bangalore-77