Individuals with an eye for talent, commercial acumen and risk-taking ability have emerged within the fashion industry which has high potential for growth in the new quotas free textiles market With Indian textiles and designs beginning to make an impact in the fashion capitals of the world and a steady stream of fashion designers pouring out of vocational institutes such as NID (National Institute of Design) and NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology), a new genre of business-minded professionals “fashion entrepreneurs” with a keen eye for talent, commercial acumen and risk-taking ability have emerged within the fashion industry which has high potential for growth in the new global quotas free textiles market. Fashion entrepreneurship is essentially about starting new fashion and textile ventures- boutiques, labels, production houses or even multi-brand retail outlets. Fashion entrepreneurs don’t necessarily design garments. They could stock other designers’ labels. But their distinguishing characteristic is their flair for design and fashion and considerable experience of its ancillary industries. To start off as an entrepreneur in the fashion industry, design- brand creation or retailing- a degree or diploma in fashion technology while not mandatory is helpful, as it equips aspiring entrepreneurs with appreciation of style, cutting and manufacturing technology, fashion co-ordination, merchandising, fabrics, forecasting and marketing. The premier institute for professional training in the fast-track fashion and related industries is the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi. An autonomous organisation promoted by the Union ministry of textiles, with affiliated institutes in the major metros, NIFT offers a three-year full-time diploma course in fashion technology. Other reputable institutes offering similar study programmes are SNDT Women’s University, Nirmala Niketan and Sophia College Polytechnic, all in Mumbai, and the International Polytechnic and South Polytechnic for Women in New Delhi. Minimum eligibility for the study programmes of these institutes is Plus Two or equivalent. After completing a general diploma course in fashion technology, students have the option of enrolling for a fourth year of training in a specialised area, which is followed by internship with a local fashion house. Depending on the specialisation, a student could intern in designing, merchandising, co-ordination, workshop, sampling, manufacturing etc. Armed with an enabling diploma, the best option is to seek employment in a small firm where one can acquire multi-department experience. A few years down, a switch to a larger organisation offering a higher designation and remuneration would fully equip you to start your own venture, for which a minimum workplace experience of five years is advisable. Several entrepreneurial firms like Ensemble, Ritu’s, BE, Melange, Satya Paul et al have established a strong countrywide presence. In addition a number of international fashion firms are also streaming into India. Among them, Aftershock, a UK-based women’s smart wear brand started in London in 1992 by the husband-wife team of Hiro and Radhika Harjani, originally from Bombay. Currently Aftershock owns 42 stores worldwide with an annual sales turnover of $50 million (Rs.225 crore). In November 2004 Aftershock inaugurated its first retail store in Bombay. Last month (September) it…
