Celebrated designers, style gurus and fashion educators from across the world will converge here in the third week of March to attend the 14th annual conference of the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI), the global forum for the fashion industry connecting the manufacturers, brands, exporters and retailers.
The theme of the IFFTI-2012 conference, beginning on March 17, would be “Fashion beyond borders”, addressing the issues such as multi-cultural identities, virtual connections, commercial opportunities and educational responses. Pearl Academy of Fashion, which has a campus in Jaipur, will host the five-day event.
Having evolved as a significant gathering of industry shapers, the IFFTI event would attract a large number of veterans in the fashion sector. Experts such as Yohji Yamamoto, Romeo Gigli, Simon Lock, Jeffry Aronsson, Rajeev Sethi, Manish Arora, Ram Sareen and Christopher Sanderson are likely to share their thoughts and vision on the business of fashion.
According to a release quoting Pearl Academy group director A.K.G. Nair here, think tanks in design, technology and business of fashion from 35 member institutions of IFFTI – representing 19 countries – along with several enterprises and institutes from India would converge to discuss the issues and opportunities pertaining to the rapidly evolving fashion sector.
Exchange of trends
Mr. Nair said the conference would ensure a cross-border exchange of fashion ideas and trends among the industry representatives from all parts of the globe, thereby enriching all stakeholders: “Cognizant of the global interests of Indian fashion designers and manufacturers, the event provides a unique opportunity for our talents to show the world what India has to offer.”
IFFTI chairperson Satoshi Onuma said the fashion and design excellence being brought into India through the conference would place the country on the global platform of fashion education. He affirmed that the idea of fashion had “struck a universal chord” with multiple fashion events occurring across continents.
Since its inception 14 years ago, the IFFTI has grown into a comprehensive international organisation representing leading fashion higher education institutions in the areas of design, technology and business. The Foundation presently comprises 35 members from 19 countries.
The global gathering of fashion academics and designers will also deliberate on the sectors such as high fashion, textiles, home textiles, mass clothing, accessories, handicrafts, footwear and jewellery. A simultaneous agenda will highlight the experiences, challenges and opportunities that the industry visionaries foresee.
