SHILLONG, Jan 17: Leading efforts in promoting local fashion designers, weavers and artisans, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Shillong, on Friday, launched ‘VisioNxt’ — a groundbreaking fashion forecasting tool powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) to decode new fashion trends and cultivate skill set.
VisioNxt is a unique initiative by the Ministry of Textiles designed to empower the Indian craft and design community. Its primary objective is to prepare India’s designers, craftsmen, and fashion industry to compete on a global scale.
At the launch event, NIFT Shillong Director, Shankar Kumar Jha, spoke about the institute’s commitment to reaching traditional weavers and artisans by collaborating with stakeholders such as the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and the state government’s Department of Textiles and Commerce and Industries. “We aim to disseminate information about this fashion forecasting tool down to the cluster and artisan level,” Jha said.
He noted that government departments and agencies could play a vital role in orienting local fashion designers, weavers, and artisans to adapt their products to meet current fashion trends and market demands. Jha also urged artisans and weavers to take advantage of VisioNxt, currently available free of charge. “In the coming years, there may be a cost to access these tools,” he cautioned.
The NIFT Shillong Director expressed confidence that VisioNxt positions India as a global leader in trend forecasting, enhancing the visibility of Indian fashion identity while reducing reliance on international trend agencies. “Artificial Intelligence will help us develop products tailored to the requirements of India’s massive textile market, valued at approximately $ 135 billion,” he said. He further highlighted India’s rich cultural diversity reflected in its garments and costumes, stating that this tool could support various sectors in understanding and predicting trends for the months and years ahead.
Jha stated that the indigenous forecasting tool will reduce dependency on European market trends, making India’s designers and artisans more self-reliant. He added that faculty and student teams from all NIFT campuses have contributed research data from their respective regions, which has been integrated into the final VisioNxt platform.
“These forecasting tools will be updated regularly. The VisioNxt 2024-25 version addresses current seasonal trends, but future updates will reflect market requirements and dependencies,” Jha said.
