Value based education

The value based education encompasses across caste, creed and geographical boundaries. Today GOI is emphasizing at "Sarv Siksha Aviyaan" a scheme through which the education shall be imparted to all. Though my belief is that with "Knowledge Economy" in progress and with new modes and methods of channels of communication, systems and processes the basic literacy will be mandatory for all to operate or function in the times to come. Therefore, future looks promising as far as education is concerned and in my opinion all will be educated NOT necessarily literate by 2020.

The second issues are of the past generation of Netas managing the Future, but are they able to see the future through their past framework? In my opinion the new education also needs to be imparting to our parliament members for future and concerns for tomorrow. Everyday when I read newspapers, I feel that there are some basic pet subjects which are the favorite passé of our politicians rather than something concerning country/world’s growth and progress. Today no matter what one studies or practices but the basic education shall address few basic issues such as quality of life, equal opportunity to all caste & gender, sustainable culture & society, sustainable and livable environment etc. I’m looking forward to such a school that will give "Value Based" education for mankind and not for an individual.

Costing Vs Pricing

We have been debating over this issue for many years now and "Costing" for Indian Market will have to be defined in a very different way. I remember the first time I travelled to Europe and I was paying all the expenses in Euros, interestingly I used to convert all the expenses in INR and the reach of those products looked out of my pocket, some products were reasonably priced such as footwear, perfumes, accessories, clothing etc. others like beverages, food and many other items were exorbitant. The similar approach has been taken by the international brands in India that they are still pricing it based on their European and American cost models, which in my opinion will not last for too long. Their pricing includes their cost as per European/American value+transportation+import duty+other though they might be manufacturing in India OR SriLanka. The base for pricing is based on their company's expenditure model in their countries. Work out a local office, base the prices realistically and see the conversions, otherwise THEY will have to increase sale period from present 3-4 months to 10 months. All objects OR brands can't be fitting into objects of desire kind of Model. They will have to meet utility pattern and discretionary income as per the geography and customs of people at large.

Today you look at cinema tickets, dinner at five star hotels, luxury shopping, and many other activities and you realise that cost of those activities are based on international pricing that are uniform but not localised. One needs to look at the perceived value of these products, experiences and activities in the domain of cultural context. The costing must consider the perceived value of various products, its utility and function and income increase over past decades in order to have a derive correct pricing. The brands and companies needs to look at this aspect that will derive a true global consumption.

BATCH 95-Brainstorming on Fashion Education Today

All of us have studied fashion during pre-quota apparel & textiles trade, and post quota the world has entered in different sphere of business mechanism. The world in fashion and apparel have had a paradigm shift in last two decades. We are the generation who has studied fashion in pre-quota regime and have learnt the lessons that was taught with some old examples. Its been almost more than a decade where we have practiced & operated in various domains of fashion industry and have witnessed the world moving from knowledge to creative economy. Therefore i would like to invite all my batch mates of 1995 onwards to come forward and contribute towards new knowledge building and sharing our experiences on a single platform. There is another generation in making and our views will help them changing the way things are going at present, it will also help educational institutions to evolve new pedagogic approach, teaching methodologies, course curriculum in contemporary fashion and design education in the country today. I look forward to all of my classmates and batch mates participation in the first brain storming session of "BATCH 95" to be held on 12Th March between 5.00-7.00 pm. I hope that it we be a great endeavour started by any batch towards contributing and sharing real life experience.

Seven Men

Seven Men had been my dream project since my NIFT days, the entire inspirations were based on a legendary Japanese photographer's NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY, where his camera exposure ranged from 4-8 hours in the most exotic planes of earth, the geographical locations were deserts, sea, craters, mountains, jungles etc. All of them signify only one thing to me and that was TIMELESSNESS. That enabled me to imagine a world that has no concept of time, its a world that looks standstill but it has dynamics of itself. That was the world that evolved the most exotic "seven men" and they were the warrior, the saint, the poet, the philosopher, the architect, the traveller and the flamboyant magician. Philosophically there are also the integral seven characters of a human being and his response to different context where his roles vary.

Seven is associated with seven days, seven stars, seven rishimunis, seven rivers, seven gods, number seven and many such universal facts that are sacred and must. The evolution of these seven men are the evolution of mankind and evolution of new species that holds each of us together and for a purpose to redefine LIFE in more holistic terms.

Legends of Fashion

Last year with the death of ace designer YSL and now with Alexander McQueen the fashion industry has got a major set back, i have grown up hearing there names and infact my knowing or orientation of fashion begun with John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. I'm not sure how it will impact the fashion industry by it has certainly impacted my thinking sphere. They were true legends of fashion and i heartily recognise their contribution to ever growing fashion industry.

Their ideologies and style of working has left deep impressions in the heart of fashion followers and they are sure the most desired and loved fashion designers for young generation. i missed watching his show at London Fashion Week in 2006 and i do regret it. Both of them has been the founders of "New look" of fashion after god Dior and their fashion contribution must be taken into new generation. Let's all fashion weeks, fashion professionals, fashion students, fashion houses, fashion hubs and fashion savvy across the world pay tribute to these legends.

Pedagogy for Fashion Courses

The method and way of teaching the design and fashion related subjects has been very controversial all these while, and there is no defined rule that is for especially creative programmes. The pedagogy needs to be evolved in tune with the new context where we are mentors more than teachers. The information is available and one can pick it up from anywhere and everywhere, the speed of the latest information is no more a constraint and our roles are shrinking as a teachers to organize knowledge to our students.

Mediocre Design Ecosystem

The Indian Design and Fashion ecosystem needs to move out of the mediocre approach, the biggest and critical challenge today to develop world class ideas into reality is that we don't have either world class conversion mindset OR capabilities. The true struggle to ideation to reality begins there.

For instance, if we want to develop a basic fashion product, it requires variety of fabrics and materials, accessories, trimmings, quality manufacturing, finishing and other processes. The biggest limitation comes when you start dealing with people who are going to be converter or realizer amongst these processes. I as a designer intends to develop the product, the fabric is silver finish fabric. Now who in India manufactures it, I need a fastening that is not the age old button or zippers, I need the zip to be a plastic file concealer, who will supply me that. i need a boning that would held my collars near to ears to fit in communication devices, who will be able to produce them. All of these limitation brings ordinary products and even i have brilliant ideas they get stored in my notebooks and sketchbooks.

Whereas China today has cultivated ecosystems along with the thinking and design capabilities. Sourcing, development of such areas, transportation, systems and processes are all culminated to the design schools in China. Their ability to have realization capability is India's innovation limitation. We need to understand these needs and begin our work to felicitate the chains of our present ecosystem and training and development along with innovative thinking will play a big role rather than justifying to work always under limitations.

Lets look at creating a design ecosystem that will enhance our imagination for futuristic outlook, and lets not confine imagination by the confined context, reality of ecosystem needs makeover for sure.