Fashion your designs

Fashion designing gives you the freedom to cut, sew, and wear your attitude

by AARTI BASNYAT

FROM ISSUE # 117 (September 2005) | IN THIS ISSUE
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So you don't have the knack for making anything look stylish? Not to worry. Fashion experts at Namuna College of Fashion Technology (NCFT) and India Education Centre (IEC) say fashion sense can be acquired.

The 'in' thing in the career market, fashion designing is groomed to change the haute couture scene in Nepal. Principal and founder, Gyani Shova Tuladhar, started NCFT because fashion designers in Nepal were not respected. Now, all that has changed. NCFT is the first college to offer a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Designing from Purbanchal University.

"In an academic setting, fashion designing is a great career choice," says Tuladhar who has been in the business for 35 years. The number of student enrolment has steadily risen: the first batch had six students, the second had 16 and the third 26. Jibeshwor Shrestha, vice-principal of NCFT says, "The increase is due to the growing awareness of fashion. I believe we are still in the initial phase of fashion development."

Famous for its diploma courses, IEC has also introduced a three-year Bachelor's program in Fashion Designing from VBS Purvanchal University of India. "The new generation is more fashion conscious and independent," says Shailaja Adhikari, proprietor of IEC, "They have individual tastes when it comes to clothes."

More girls than boys in Nepal enrol for this course; the ratio at NCFT is 8:1 and at IEC it is 7:1. However, this course aims to break the boundaries set by patriarchy to establish individuals as independent creative resources. "The objective is to empower an individual to be self-employed," says Shrestha. "Students can either enter the glamour department or sit at home and sell their designs. They can even join the MBA program at PU if they want."

Many boutiques have mushroomed all over the city but the heads of both institutes are hardly worried. "There's no fun without competition. If you are good, you survive," says Shailaja Adhikari. Tuladhar adds, "Fashion designers earn money. Look at me, I am doing very well for myself. It all depends on your creativity and hard work." Plus, there's the advantage of getting to wear whatever takes your fancy and selling it so others wear it too.

LEARNING STYLE
Laxmi Ghale is a 23-year-old student of fashion design. She will become a full-fledged designer once she graduates from NCFT in November.

Laxmi comes from a family that has been in the clothing business for generations. It isn't very difficult to see where she gets her interest from. "I've always been interested in fashion," she says, "I grew up fascinated by clothes. I believe Nepal can become a part of the international fashion scene but changes must be made first." Laxmi believes that the fashion scene in Nepal needs to find its own footing, "not just imitate what's on TV. Knowledge must grow and people must understand that clothes reflect their character." This she learned from the extensive courses offered at NCFT, which allowed her to grow as a designer while polishing her qualities with classes on personality and grooming. "Fashion is about individual tastes but it is very important to know the basics and understand various materials if you are serious," says she.

A topper in her class, Laxmi is enthusiastic about her future and plans to study further while trying to decide exactly what she wants to do in the fashion industry. She does not want to succumb to the norm and be content with opening a boutique. She is very enthusiastic about the varied career options she can look forward to and is all fired up about doing something big. The most important tools to begin with, according to Laxmi, are "a dream and the determination to make it happen."

Namuna College of Fashion Technology
Name of program: Bachelor of Fashion Design (BFD)
University: Purbanchal University, Nepal
Duration: Three years/Six semesters
Total credit hours: 120/31 subjects
Attendance: 80 percent required by University
Total cost: Rs 1,83,100
Qualification required: +2 passed in any discipline

Indian Education Centre
Name of program: Bachelor of Science in Fashion Technology (Bsc-FT)
University: VBS Purvanchal University, India
Duration: Three years/ Six semesters
Total cost: Rs 1,42,000
Qualification required: +2 passed in any discipline