Creating your own designs

SANGITA SHRESTHA

KATHMANDU: Most of you would love to flaunt trendy designs. But if you are keen to create your own designs for others by pursuing a career in the fashion world, then the Bachelor-level fashion courses available within the country could be the route for you.

The IEC College of Art and Fashion affiliated to Vinayaka Missions University, India, Namuna College of Fashion Technology (NCFT)affiliated to Purbanchal University, Nepal and Lord Buddha Education Foundation (LBEF) affiliated to Sikkim Manipal University, India are providing BSc in Fashion Technology, Bachelor in Fashion Design (BFD) and BSc in Apparel and Fashion Design

respectively.

About the courses

In general ‘Fashion’ indicates a trend or style which is accepted in contemporary lifestyles defining the wearer’s personality and outlook. Fashion Designing course as per Sanjil Shrestha, Co-ordinator of NCFT, “is a creative skill-based course and is the combination of art, science and technology.” He adds, “Basically, the term fashion assembles everything within its periphery and is directly or indirectly related to everything surrounding us, and when it comes to fashion designing, it is related to the design of apparel and accessories.”

NCFT introduced the course in 2002 at the undergraduate level.

For Suchita Sachi, Co-ordinator of LBEF, School of Fashion Technology which was started in 2004, “Fashion designing course enhances knowledge about the personality where the designer’s only motive is to figure out how a person can look the best just by wearing garments.”

She adds, “Generally there are different people having different body types and as a designer s/he should visually rectify their figure or look using proper dress.”

The IEC College of Art and Fashion is running in its fourth year. And Shailaja Adhikary, Managing Director of the college defines the course as “the combination of science and art where the course is a complete package for changing and enhancing personality and knowing clothing and accessorising complete age groups from children to adults.”

All three colleges offer three-year undergraduate course, that is semester-based. The courses cover from history of fashion to new technology. More than 30 subjects are taught within the three years.

Eligibility and

scholarship

Those who have passed their +2 level in any faculty are eligible for the entrance exams taken by these colleges. And one must pass the entrance test to get

admission.

These college have provision for scholarships as well. “We provide scholarship based on the results of the entrance test. The scholarship amount is invested for laptop, machine, et cetera that are required for the students to pursue their studies,”informs Adhikary about the scholarship provision at IEC.

Likewise, NCFT, as per Shrestha has three types of scholarships — Semester Exams scholarship (50 per cent tuition fee is given to a student who attains the first position in semester exams), Entrance Exam scholarship (onetime scholarship of 50 per cent discount on admission fee and is given to a student who attains the highest marks in entrance exam) and Social scholarship ( 25 per cent discount on tuition fees per semester is given to one student under the Dalit and disabled group).

Sachi, meanwhile, reveals that at LBEF students who obtain 60 per cent to 90 per cent in entrance exam will get up to 10 per cent scholarship in tuition fee. From the second semester, one who obtains the highest marks would get 50 per cent scholarship in tuition fee and it would be cancelled if they don’t obtain good marks.

After graduation

There are vast regions in the fashion world for graduates of fashion design besides ending up being a fashion designer.

Nisha Shrestha, who completed her graduation in 2011 from NCFT says,“Besides a fashion designer, one can work as a garment technologist, fashion photographer and choreographer where passion, dedication and patience are required to be successful in this field.”

Besides that one can also become a freelance designer, embroidery and accessories designer, fashion stylist, fashion editor, fashion reporter, quality controller, merchandiser, fashion industrialist, fashion entrepreneur, pattern maker, fashion forecaster, fashion consultant, fashion coordinator and more, as per

Sanjil.

Adhikary agrees, “As fashion is subject of everyone’s interest, there is a broad scope in this field where graduates have all the requirements to compete in the international arena as well.”

Sanjeev Shangachhen, a Vth semester student at NCFT doing Bachelor in Fashion Designing opines, “Even as a student one can get work in the fashion field and gain experience. One can gain name and fame in this field.

Challenges

At present the Tribhuvan University (TU) does not offer Fashion Designing course. Pointing to the cost of the course, Adhikary argues, “If TU would introduce this course, then the amount the students are paying right now might be less.”

At present they are affiliated to Vinayaka Missions University, the charge they “are paying to the this university is higher as compared to the charge that would be required had we got affiliation with TU”.

Shangachhen argues, “There should be more practical classes than right now.”

Whereas per Shrestha “the course books are not available here and we have to import.”