Kunal Debnath, a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)-Patna student, is going to represent India at the Frankfurt Style Award 2015 on September 5.
Kunal, a native of Guwahati in Assam, who did a course in fashion designing from NIFT-Patna (2011-15), is the only Indian to be shortlisted for the prestigious award.
Sweta Rajan Sharma, associate professor at NIFT-Patna, said: "It is a proud moment for us and the entire state that a boy from NIFT-Patna is going to represent the country at this prestigious fashion show." Sharma claimed Kunal was the only participant from India. Kunal's design, Over the Rainbow, will compete with designs by 59 other designersat the Frankfurt function. Kunal could not be contacted as he had left for Frankfurt.
Kunal was selected from among 345 applicants for this year's competition, making him one of the best 60 young designers at the event. At the final in Frankfurt on September 5, Kunal's design would be staged in front of 400 international guests.
Among the awards is a public choice category where people can vote at www.frankfurtstyleaward.com for the top 60 designs.
At present, Kunal is trending at ninth position in the category. Sharma said: "As the boy has studied from the Patna campus, people should support him through online voting."
According to Sharma a little support and cooperation from people of the state can help Kunal win the prestigious award.
Kunal was also presented the NIFT Student of the Year Award this year. He joined NIFT-Patna in 2011 and passed out from the institute this year after studying for four years. At the convocation in May, a total of 55 NIFT-Patna students, including 32 from the fashion design department and 23 from the management department, were awarded degrees. NIFT-Patna shifted to its new campus at Mithapur last year.
The Frankfurt style Award is an international talent competition for fashion and designs. The competition is regarded as a unique talent and career platform and promotes innovative ideas, creativity and outstanding creative achievement of design talent from around the world.
The administrator and initiator for Frankfurt Style Award is the PR agency Public Relations Partners Gesellschaft für Kommunikation mbH located in Kronberg im Taunus near Frankfurt am Main. The idea to promote talent in fashion & design was founded in 2007 together with the Handwerkskammer Frankfurt Rhein Main and the Frankfurter Schule für Bekleidung und Mode. The competition is growing since 2008 into one of the most important international awards for fashion and design.
The event's website brags of prize money, non-cash prizes, internships and dream trips worth up to 50,000 Euros.
