Ms. Vimi Vansil is the Director at the Indian Institute of Fashion and Design, Chandigarh. She has done a Master’s in Textile from NIFT and has experience of over 20 years in working in the fashion industry. She has been conferred with the Best Designer Award from M.S. Bitta (AIATF) held by Fevicryl. She has also been chief mentor and choreographer for several Fashion shows such as Sunsilk Fashion Show, Kids fashion Show, etc. She also organized many more Fashion Shows and Talent Hunt Shows in Punjab University Chandigarh, Shimla Fest, GIF, Tavash, etc and has received the best choreographer award from FFCDAI. She has worked with prominent celebrities like Late Sri Devi, Sonam Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, etc. 

IIFD Chandigarh

What key factors keep you connected with the education sector? 

“My keen interest in upgrading myself”

The main factors that keep me inclined towards the educational sector have to be the growth opportunities it offers, with the range it is present in. From offline institutions to now the EdTech industry, we get to learn from it daily. 

Being the Director, how would you describe your leadership style? 

“I focus on enhancing student’s knowledge and concepts of a particular subject”

I believe in any sector, be it in fashion or education, leadership works with the formula of “people working with us” and NOT “people working under us”, and this is what makes all the difference. 

How do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your Institute? 

“Today, social media marketing is considered the most favourable course, and we are focusing more on that”

The key programs offered are definitely the ones which are in demand nowadays, in fashion, textile and design. Also, the marketing strategies would be to reach the targeted audience, especially through social media nowadays. 

What can an inbound student gain from studying here in the Institute?

‘We believe in integrating Indian Culture in the Curriculum”

Indian fashion institutes, while focusing on the variety of courses offered, also believe in integrating Indian culture in the curriculum, directly or indirectly. Students enjoy when they learn from practical and not just from theory, and while each has its own benefits, here more is offered at affordable costs, covering all the important aspects of the courses. 

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How does the curriculum of IIFD, Chandigarh ensure the best practice of industry? 

“The curriculum is designed in such a way, to keep the current needs of the industry in mind”

The growth in the fashion industry is ever happening, and the curriculum is regularly revised to stay in touch with the practical aspect, and to make the students ready for future career opportunities, as well. 

How could your Institute be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

“Our institute welcomes students of all races and economic backgrounds”

We are trying to keep a percentage of admissions, especially open for the economically backward classes. This is what all colleges and institutes must do because talent can never be segregated based on the economic status of a student. 

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the Institute and the students are?

“Not just to the institute, I believe I connect directly to the students here as well”

Though we can not stay in contact with all of them at once, the institute offers them the best career opportunities while they are studying and we have a hundred percent placement rate. 

What do you think should be the Institute’s top priority over the next 10 years? 

“We believe in manifesting the short-term goals first, to inculcate the best right now”

For the next 10 years, I think our topmost concern would surely be to expand our classroom sizes, to include more faculty and give opportunities to a greater number of students to learn with us.

What would you like people to know about your Institute they may not know? 

“Whatever we have written in our brochure is 100% true to our knowledge”

We aim to completely portray our institute’s details to the students and aspiring fashion enthusiasts and to uncover all the major aspects of what our institute provides. I think somewhere this is what people may not know, that everything that is shown to them in the prospectus of the institute, is hundred percent true to our knowledge. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you see for your institute? 

“I think the biggest challenge for IIFD is to match the pace of the industry”

The biggest challenge that every course faces, may it be fashion or even sciences, is that as we move towards higher education, the specification of the course narrows down. I feel if we can inculcate a broad spectrum of curriculum for students pursuing higher education, and try to build learning programs in such a way, that would save everyone’s time. 

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students? 

“Give yourself some time, and do what YOU feel is correct at that particular time”

I would like to mention that it’s a common practice for the youth and students, to follow the crowd, and to do what everyone else thinks is right. Do NOT fall into this trap. Give yourself the freedom to change your choices also, as time passes. Research well, and follow your heart! 

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How do you tend to establish a healthy relationship in your Institute? 

“We do not believe in working ‘under’ someone, we believe in working ‘with’ them”

We ensure a very healthy environment in our institute, wherein students and teachers learn together, share their knowledge with each other. This is how our students do not hesitate in any opportunity coming their way, and this is the reason our students are our institute’s pride!