VIT University Launches V-FIT in Chennai Campus

Indian entrepreneurs should take advantage of the low cost manpower available in India to produce quality textile and other products at low cost and compete with China in the manufacturing sector, Dr. G. Viswanathan, Chancellor of VIT University, Vellore said here on Saturday.

Presiding over the inaugural function of VIT Fashion Institute of Technology (V-FIT) and inaugurating the Academic Block-II at the VIT Chennai Campus, Dr. Viswanathan said that the textile sector accounts for 11% of the Indian exports. Since India has a great diversity in terms of weaving and textile materials, it is very appropriate that the VIT has launched V-FIT. 

India’s market size in the textile sector which is currently U.S. $ 108 billion is expected to go up to U.S. $223 billion in 2020.  “We need trained people as the industry grows.

There is therefore need for special programmes to meet the textile industry and customer requirements. That is why we have launched V-FIT," he said, adding that the textile sector provided direct employment to 4.5 crore people and indirect employment to six crore people, and that it will need 61 million trained personnel in the textile sector in 2022.

Inaugurating V-FIT, Mr. P. Mohammed Ali, Founder, Galfar Engineering and Construction Company, Oman said that V-FIT provides ample opportunities to students to create new fashions and models.  The students should uphold the tradition of India while creating new textile designs, he said.

Dr. Anita Mabel Manohar, Director, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai congratulated Dr. Viswanathan for his vision in launching V-FIT. The faculty and students of V-FIT should not miss the opportunity to take the culture of Tamil Nadu to the global level.

The students should also take advantage of the avenues of research in fashion technology, in amalgamation with other engineering branches in VIT. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of India can be increased through fashion technology, she said.

Mr. Sriramulu Balakrishnan, Managing Director, KG Denim Ltd., Coimbatore gave away cash prizes on behalf of VIT to the Plus Two toppers in six weaver families of Kancheepuram district.

Ms. Kadhambari S. Viswanathan, Assistant Vice-President, VIT said that the textile industry is a U.S. $ 100 billion which provided employment to 45 million people and contributed to 14% of India’s total industrial output. V-FIT will impart hands-on quality skills in fashion technology. 

The institute is equipped with a patent laboratory and a resource hub established at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore, she said.  Dr. P. Gunasekaran, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, VIT-Chennai Campus proposed a vote of thanks.

Later talking to news persons, the VIT Chancellor said that V-FIT which will offer a four-year full-time B.Tech. course in Fashion Technology has been started with an initial intake of 30.  VIT wanted to encourage more women students to take up a career in fashion technology through V-FIT.

Good employment is the ultimate aim of the course, he said. Dr. Anitha Mabel Manohar who is the advisor to V-FIT said that the B.Tech course in fashion technology will impart training in the six different designs, i.e., accessory design, leather design, technology design, knit wear design, textile design and fashion technology design.  “It has 500% employment opportunities," she said when asked about the employment potential of fashion technology.