What is it?
MA Fashion & Textiles is a taught course of international reputation that offers two specialist pathways - fashion and textiles. The course is designed to broaden and deepen existing knowledge and to give the necessary experience and confidence to practice within the international fashion industry at the highest level. It will stimulate and consolidate imagination and creative identity with the support of an informed knowledge of the global industry.

What is the future potential?
The Indian fashion and textile Industry has an overwhelming presence in the economic life of the country. Apart from providing one of the basic necessities of life, the fashion and textile industry also plays a pivotal role through its contribution to industrial output, the export earnings of the country and employment generation. The design industry is growing and facing challenge of complexity and competition. Innovative and experimental approaches are encouraged by clients. Indian fashion and textile industry is making a global presence due to the acceptance of traditional Indian crafts world over. The day is not far away when Indian designer brands will make their mark in western markets; this process has already begun.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for students or professionals with a keen interest to develop further as a professional designer/ researcher and excel in the field of fashion and textiles. Candidates with flair for designing and vigor to learn and experiment new arenas in the world of textiles and fashion, Individuals who think out of the box and can stand for their own design philosophies and attitudes will be sought.

What kind of transformation will happen at Pearl?
Throughout the course you participate in individual and group tutorials, develop skills through personal professional development workshops, on-line resources and postgraduate talks that are organized to introduce you to a range of visiting designers and practitioners. The objectives of the programme are to develop in our students:

A full understanding of the value of personal research. Evidence of technical skills to a professional level. The confidence to locate your work in its cultural context.

How will this transformation come about?
All MA students gain specific knowledge and experience of the fashion industry and develop their skills under the guidance of some of the most eminent and experienced current practitioners. The fundamental philosophy of this course is that truly relevant, innovative design is not purely a creative activity involving designers in the artistic process; it has to be allied to the ability to analyse markets, the industry and society in general. The designer must not only be conversant with the broad fashion and textiles context but be able accurately to analyse and diagnose markets, design for them and be able to communicate with colleagues and management.
Students must not only create the right product for the market but also be good communicators who will be able to convince colleagues that their ideas are based on a real understanding and mature analysis on the market and the competition

What will be the learning?
The department draws strength not only from its wide-ranging and comprehensive creative and technical inputs, but from the work of the sister departments. This presents MA students with challenges to meet and wider problems to solve, and also offers them a showcase for their ideas and a range of collaborative possibilities.

The MAFT is a studio-based, practice-led course demanding a high level of commitment and motivation. Underpinned by a supportive theoretical framework and instruction in professional contemporary practice, it allows for collaborative opportunities for developing pioneering work within the textile and Fashion industry.

In Semester 1, despite their vertical background, there is a need to bring all the entrants to the required level in terms of conceptualization skills and ability to identify individual needs for specialization at the following stages. This semester will focus on inputs that will be crucial for developing the student's research, conceptual, and analytical abilities, which will facilitate to self-identify area(s) of deeper focus and analyses in the subsequent phases. At the end of the semester, the students will undergo industry internship.

In Semester 2, the programme is project-driven The student, in this phase of learning, must develop clear evidence of creative and practical abilities required for advanced design applications through the individual project, which may be converted to actual prototype development in the final semester.

In Semester 3, focus is on development, and execution or application of innovative design prototypes. Students will be expected to deepen their concept development in chosen area of work, which will be demonstrated through a Masters Project. After the completion of the Masters Project, the students will link the project to industry with a professional stint in the industry.

What will be the mode of assessment?
Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning. All assessments would be a combination of formative type (unmarked) where in students are given guided feedbacks for improvements where as summative assessment (marked) provides judgement on standard of performance. Continuous evaluation and assessment is undertaken throughout the semesters by way of assignments, projects, internships and presentations. Juries comprising academicians and industry professionals assess students' work and capabilities. The aim is to closely monitor students' evolution as competent professionals and provide critical feedback to students on their performance and development.

What are the career opportunities?
The prime objective of MAFT is to spawn a critical mass of highly competent creative and technical professionals in the areas of Fashion Design and Textile Design, capable of providing leadership. A MAFT pass out would be providing design solutions to the industry as Stylist, Concept Thinker, Designer, Design Manager, Creative Director, Entrepreneur. Master's graduates have an acknowledged advantage in the employment market, obtaining work in a wide range of vocational and academic fields related to fashion and textiles. The MA also provides an excellent preparation for higher level research degrees (M.Phil or PhD), with an increasing number of graduates undertaking research in design related subjects, in practice or theory or entering into education as lecturers.

Who to talk to?
Programme Leader - Prof. Nien Siao,
(MAFT Fashion Pathway & HOD, Fashion Design)
PGD Industrial Design-Textiles, PGCHE, Nottingham Trent University (UK)
Phone - 0-9810525102

Programme Leader - Prof Seema Mahajan,
(MAFT Textile Pathway & HOD Textile Design)
M.Sc. (Textiles & Clothing), PGD Marketing Management, (PGCHE) Nottingham Trent University (UK),
Phone - 9810096563