Cover Story
Top 10 Fashion Design Colleges in India - 2025
India’s fashion design colleges are no longer just training grounds for creativity; they are becoming strategic engines of cultural, economic, and sustainable transformation. In a country where textiles are deeply woven into history, identity, and livelihood, fashion education today carries a responsibility that goes far beyond aesthetics. It must preserve heritage, respond to market realities, and anticipate the future of a rapidly evolving global fashion industry.
Across India, fashion institutions are redefining how design is taught and practiced. Classrooms are transforming into studios, labs, and innovation hubs where students learn by doing—experimenting with materials, mastering digital tools, and engaging directly with industry challenges. From traditional handlooms to 3D design software, the emphasis is on building versatile designers who can move seamlessly between craft and technology.
What sets Indian fashion education apart is its growing commitment to sustainability and social impact. As the industry confronts issues of waste, overproduction, and ethical sourcing, colleges are encouraging students to design with purpose. By integrating sustainable textiles, circular design thinking, and community-led craftsmanship into the curriculum, institutions are nurturing designers who understand fashion as a force for positive change.
Equally important is the strong industry linkage that many colleges are fostering. Collaborations with designers, brands, manufacturers, and global institutions are helping bridge the gap between academia and the professional world. Graduates today are not just designers, they are entrepreneurs, innovators, and storytellers equipped to navigate global markets.
As India strengthens its position in the global fashion ecosystem, fashion design colleges will play a defining role in shaping its future. By cultivating creativity, responsibility, and resilience, these institutions are empowering a new generation to design not just garments, but the future of fashion itself.
This issue of Higher Education Review talks about some of the professionally managed colleges in the country, which has been nurtured with best technical and professional infrastructure and assistance from efficient and skilled faculties ensuring delivery of quality higher education and research. This issue spotlights a list of ‘Top 10 Fashion Design Colleges in India - 2025’, the list has been crafted by a team of Industry veterans, CEOs, VCs and the Higher Education Review editorial team.
Top 10 Fashion Design Colleges in India - 2025
College Logo |
College |
Management |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Atlas Skill Tech University
Mumbai
|
Dr Indu Shahani, Founding President | Offers a fashion design program that emphasizes creativity, craftsmanship, and industry relevance by combining design thinking, trend research, textiles, and garment construction with hands-on projects and professional industry exposure |
|
ICAT College of Design & Media
Bangalore
|
K Kumar, Founder & Chairman | Offers a blend of creative curriculum, practical skills, and industry exposure, focusing on design, technology, and business through hands-on projects, expert guidance, and placement support for students |
|
IITT College of Fashion
Tirupur
|
Varadarajan Bhaskaran, Vice Principal | The college offers comprehensive fashion design programs that provide a strong foundation in both the creative and business aspects of the fashion industry, with a focus on practical, industry-aligned training and more |
|
Istituto Marangoni
Mumbai
|
Tarun Pandey, COO & Director | The institute’s fashion design programs offer immersive, industryfocused training blending creativity with technical skills in drawing, patternmaking, and digital tools (like CLO3D), covering everything from concept to collection development |
|
JD Institute of Fashion Technology
Bangalore
|
Rupal Dalal, Managing Director | Offers comprehensive fashion design programs that blend creative expression with technical expertise and practical industry exposure, preparing students to become innovative and industry-ready designers |
|
Karnavati University
Gandhinagar
|
Dr Himanshu Sharma, Director | The university offers a hands-on B.Des (Hons) in Fashion Design & Technology/ Styling that covers garment construction, digital tools (3D, AR/ VR), sustainability, and branding |
|
Madras Institute of Fashion Technology
Chennai
|
Senguttuvan K, Executive Director | The institute offers comprehensive Fashion Design programs (Diploma, BSc, MSc) blending creativity with technology, covering fundamentals, design application, and more |
|
National Institute of Fashion Technology
Delhi
|
Tanu Kashyap, Director General | Provides a fashion design program that cultivates creative professionals by blending traditional Indian crafts with modern technology, focusing on design conceptualization, digital tools, and more |
|
Indian Institute of Art & Design
New Delhi
|
Dr Jitin Chadha, Founder & Director | Offers undergraduate (BA (Hons) Fashion Design) and postgraduate (MA Fashion Design) programs that focus on a project-based, studio-centric pedagogy in collaboration with major universities |
|
Vogue Institute of Art & Design
Bangalore
|
Dr HL Vijayakumar Lakkanna, Executive Director | Provides comprehensive fashion design education, blending creativity with industry skills through programs like B.Sc (FAD) and M.Des (FDM) that cover garment construction, textile science, illustration, pattern making, and fashion business |