Launch of ‘Paridhi 24×25’ by Union Minister of Textiles

On September 5, 2024, Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, alongside Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, launched the India-specific fashion trend book “Paridhi 24×25,” a bilingual web portal of VisioNxt, and an AI Taxonomy e-book. This significant event attracted over 150 industry leaders from the fashion, textiles, and retail sectors, as well as prominent craftsmen and weavers from various craft clusters. VisioNxt has already produced over 60 micro trend reports, more than 10 close-to-season trend reports, 3 research papers, and the inaugural AI Taxonomy book on Indian wear categories.

VisioNxt: Pioneering Fashion Trend Insights

VisioNxt aims to position India on a global scale in fashion trend prediction, enhancing the visibility of Indian fashion vocabulary and identity while decreasing reliance on international trend agencies. By entering the forecasting space, India seeks to provide unique insights into local fashion consumers, integrating its strengths in information technology and textiles through a blend of artificial and human intelligence.

Inauguration of NIFT Begusarai Extension Centre

The inauguration of the much-anticipated National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Begusarai Extension Centre was part of the launch event. The center will host a three-day workshop focused on imparting basic tailoring and garment construction skills. During his visit, the Minister toured key facilities, including the pattern-making section and garment construction lab, interacting with trainees and encouraging them to maximize the learning opportunities offered.

MoU Signing with NSDC

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NIFT and the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) in the presence of Shri Giriraj Singh. In his address, the Minister highlighted the center’s role in fostering inclusive growth for marginalized communities and emphasized NIFT’s importance in cultivating a skilled workforce crucial to the fashion industry. He also shared his vision for developing the textile sector as a vital contributor to India’s economic superpower ambitions.

Successful Workshops at Begusarai Extension Centre

From September 17 to 19, 2024, the Begusarai Extension Centre successfully conducted its first workshop, training 31 women from the Jeevika self-help group in basic cutting and tailoring. The workshop received positive feedback, with enthusiastic participation and engagement from the attendees, who learned various new methods and designs.

VisioNxt: Meeting Industry Needs

At the Global Textile Summit in 2017, the Prime Minister identified the need for India-specific real-time trend insights for industry stakeholders. In response, VisioNxt was established at NIFT with support from the Ministry of Textiles, focusing on delivering essential trend insights and forecasts for the Indian fashion and retail market. This initiative uniquely combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) to analyze and map geo-specific trends, reflecting India’s cultural diversity and socio-economic nuances. The comprehensive reports are accessible in both Hindi and English through the VisioNxt bilingual portal at www.visionxt.in.