Bhubaneswar: The National Institute of Fashion Technology has developed and implemented a programme to provide students substantial exposure to the handloom and handicraft clusters to give then an opportunity for creative innovation and experimentation.

Through this initiative, the fashion institute aims to reach out to artisans and craftsmen at the grass-root level. The artisans and craftsmen involved in the initiative will get benefit through knowledge dissemination and exposure to urban markets and design intervention, innovative designs and linkages with new markets.

The craft cluster initiative at the fashion institute is designed with the objectives to sensitise students to the realities of the craft sector and give insight into regional sensibilities and diversities, resources and environment.

"Through the initiative, the institute has been successful in creating a widespread awareness in merging crafts with fashion. The programme is envisaged to provide an edge to the institute students by providing systematic, continuous and regular exposure every year to the diversely rich and unique handlooms and handicrafts of India," said Susmita Behera, course coordinator from department of fashion and lifestyle accessories design at the institute.

The institute students specialise in the areas of design, technology and management and communication. Students will be contributing in varied areas in the clusters such as design intelligence, design innovation, product development, supply chain management, brand management, retail entrepreneurships, organisational development and systems design and development.

They will also contribute in the areas of process innovation, production planning, and research-based improvisation and quality management and assist artisans to develop distinct identity of the handloom and handicraft cluster through logo, promotional materials such as posters, brochures and catalogues.

A part of the initiative is the crafts bazaar, which will be hosted on November 25 and 26. During these two-days, awareness workshops will be conducted by the departments of fashion design, textile design, lifestyle and accessory department and fashion management studies. These workshops will be conducted for artisans to enhance their understanding about the urban markets. They will be interacting with the institute faculty and students to know about the trends and the understanding of market demands.