AAFT: Delivering Cutting-Edge Fashion Education & Setting New Benchmarks in Creative Education

The fashion industry is evolving rapidly, driven by technologies, changing cultural values and sudden shift in global trends. Higher education institutions are focusing on equipping students for a landscape where innovation must match with practicality and cultural relevance.

Institutions should create industry ready professionals, who can keep pace with changing trends in the fashion industry, leverage tools such as artificial intelligence and protect the artistry of traditional craftsmanship.

This demands a forward-thinking pedagogical approach that inspires students to shape growing industries rather than simply adapting to them.

The Asian Academy of Film & Television (AAFT), led by Dr Sandeep Marwah, has established itself as a significant institution providing creative education, with a focus on fashion and design. Founded 33 years ago with a single course and 40 students, AAFT is offering 50 creative programs now, including Fashion Design, Fashion communication and Styling.

The college has achieved remarkable milestones by earning its 10th world record for delivering 125 batches, reflecting its dedication to offering quality education. Under the leadership of CEO Akshay Marwah, AAFT addresses industry needs through a structured approach emphasizing Industry wetted Curriculum, qualified faculty, advanced infrastructure and wide industry exposure.

Innovative Fashion Education

Do Your Own Degree The fashion and design program at AAFT includes both creativity and expertise. The college infrastructure consists of Design studios, CAD labs, photography studios and makeup labs, with industry mirror settings giving their students a smooth transition from academia to industry giving hands on learning experience.

Unlike traditional programs which offer limited practical exposure, the college provides students with four global fashion shows annually, with Global Fashion and Design Week showcasing over 540 garments during a three day graduating event which is the largest of its kind in India.

AAFT’s “Do Your Own Degree” (DYOD) program allows students to modify their education by choosing majors and minors in areas such as fashion design, communication, or retail management developing versatility and specialization.

Global Fashion Training through International Collaboration with Industry Giants

By collaborating with organizations such as the Fashion Design Council of India (FCDI), International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) California, and industry giants such as Singer Machines and Sony, students have direct access to professional networks.

“Rochelle Pinto, Editor at Vogue, offers Master classes and seminars about current trends. AAFT provides internship opportunities to the students with designers like Manish Malhotra and Rimple & Harpreet Narula giving student’s practical experience”,says S.G.Babu, Professor & Dean (The School of Fashion and Design), AAFT.

By integrating sustainability and technology into its curriculum AAFT stays ahead of the industry trends. While understanding the consumer demand for ecofriendly fashion, the institute conducts industry relevant research on sustainable practices and organizes events such as the Green Party of India which focuses on upcycling and garment swapping.

The college curriculum includes next generation fibers such as vegan leather and recycled polyesters ensuring students are equipped with both creative and technical skills.

In the curricula, AI is taught as a tool for innovation rather than making it replacing foundational skills allowing students to focus on technology while maintaining their creative vision. “We are preparing our students for the global fashion industry through our hands on training process and specialized courses in techno fashion and smart textiles”, says S.G. Babu.

Fostering Future-Ready Professionals

AAFT’s School of Fashion and Design is not a Standalone Institute or a Department in the technical or Science University. It’s Presence among School of Cinema, School of Photography, School Of Journalism and Mass Communication, School of Animation and schools alike gets the students competitive advantage of Inter Disciplinary learning and Living in a creative environment and maximizes their opportunity of getting real-time feedback and inputs from customers.

The institute’s focus on innovation, integration, industry exposure, technology adoption and collaboration ensures that students are not only technical proficient but also creatively empowered to thrive in a competitive market.

AAFT supports different talents through its scholarships such as EWS (Economically Weaker Sections), for economically disadvantaged students and merit scholarships for best students in sports and female students providing quality education for all.

The institute’s extensive workshops, internships, and training programs including social internships in the first year and craft based internships in second year providing practical experience that compliments academic learning. With its culture of resilience, creativeness, and adaptability, AAFT enables its graduates to navigate the challenges in the global fashion industry.

The institute’s curriculum to including advanced AI applications, smart textiles and sustainable design practices, ensuring students to remain at the forefront of industry innovation. Looking ahead, Asian Academy of Film & Television aims to further enhance its pedagogy by deepening its focus on sustainability, technology and commerciality.

With visionary leadership and supportive management team AAFT continues to set new benchmarks in creative education, preparing students to lead the future of fashion with confidence and skill.