PEARL ACADEMY OF FASHION’S XIIIth CONVOCATION CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY

Look Back & ContemporARise to Remain Relevant : Ajay Dua

New Delhi , July 19, 2006: Opportunities for design graduates are no more limited to the fashion and textile sector. The organized retail sector, growing at the rate of 22 – 25% p.a. offers lucrative avenues that are global and challenging nature, stated Dr Ajay Dua, Secretary , Department of Industry Policy and Promotion (DIPP) at the thirteenth Convocation ceremony of India’s premier institute of fashion and design education - Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF), here today.

While the organized retail sector will continue to grow at 22-25% p.a. for the next two to three decades, “fashion graduates will need to innovate to gain competitive advantage in modern retail formats”, stated Dr Ajay Dua in his Convocation address. “Fashion and design, he said, evolve with time, and countries that have bothered to preserve and develop their traditions and culture and have a sense of history are usually the centres of art and creativity.”

Stating the example of frescos of Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, Dr Dua urged graduating designers to look back; fuse the future with the past; and comtemporarise to remain relevant and in fashion.

Mr Deepak Seth, Chairman, House of Pearl and Pearl Academy of Fashion highlighted the growing need for trained manpower and said “The academy’s vision for the next decade is to establish itself as a global centre of excellence in the spheres of design, business and technology. PAF, today is the only fashion educator in India, which prepares manpower for every segment of the fashion chain from design to retailing and make-up.”

Presenting the annual report, Mr. A K G Nair, Group Director, Pearl Academy of Fashion said “In order to meet the growing demands of the fashion industry, Pearl Academy of Fashion will focus on wide range of activities, including advanced research and consultancy services. In this regard, the academy has initiated collaborative relations with leading international institutes.”

Congratulating the outgoing batch, Mr Nair said “Arvind Brands, Pantaloons, Shoppers Stop, ITC Lifestyle Division, J & J Buying, Lifestyle, Liberty, Steve and Barrys, and more of same repute have absorbed PAF students, with the highest salary offer of Rs. 4.0 Lac p.a. Demand for trained professionals for the textile and retail industry is growing and will strengthen further in 2006 and 2007. Another trend observed in this year’s placement was that companies have recruited students in groups of 3’s, 4’s and more. This seems to be an indication that the industry houses in the textile and retail segments are investing in human resources and enhancing scales to compete in the new regime.”

Dr. Ajay Dua, Secretary, Department of Industry Policy and Promotion (DIPP) presented diplomas to 143 graduating students of three postgraduate & three undergraduate programmes in the areas Fashion Retail Management (FRM), Apparel Management Programme (AMP), Applied and Professional Photography (APP), Fashion & Media Make-up, Fashion Design Indian Wear (FDIW) and Fashion Retail and Merchandise Management (FRMM).