New Delhi: The Board Meeting of the North India Section of the Textile Institute (NISTI) was held in New Delhi under the leadership of Dr. R. A. Lal. The meeting brought together eminent academicians, textile professionals, industry experts, and distinguished members of the Institute to deliberate upon the future of textile education, research, innovation, skill development, and stronger industry-academia collaboration.
Among those present on the occasion were Dr. S. K. Chaudhary, Prof. Dr. V. K. Kothari, Prof. Dr. Vinod Shanbaug, Shri Vijay Bhalla, Dr. Kuldeep K. Sharma, Shri Sudarshan Sharma, Dr. Surendra Kumar, Shri R. N. Sharma, Dr. R. S. Antil, Prof. Nien Siao, Prof. Nidhi Gupta, Shri Rajendra Saxena, Prof. K. N. Chatterjee, Dr. Vijay Mathur, Shri R. K. Vij, Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Shri Prabhu Nath Pandey, and Shri A. N. Bajpai.
The meeting focused on strengthening the textile sector through education, emerging technologies, research, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and professional development. The participants also discussed the changing requirements of the global textile and fashion industry and the need to equip young professionals with contemporary knowledge and practical skills.
Speaking to the press, Dr. Sandeep Marwah, President, AAFT School of Fashion & Design, said, “The textile and fashion industry is one of the most important creative and employment-generating sectors of India. With our rich heritage of textiles, handloom, craftsmanship, and design, India has enormous potential to emerge as a global leader in the sector. The need of the hour is to combine our traditional knowledge with modern technology, innovation, sustainability, and international market understanding.”
Dr. Marwah further said, “Education is the strongest bridge between the textile industry and the future. Institutions must work closely with professional bodies such as NISTI to create industry-oriented programmes, encourage research, promote entrepreneurship, and prepare young people for the rapidly changing global marketplace.”
He also emphasised the importance of sustainable fashion and responsible production, stating that the future of textiles would depend increasingly on innovation, environmental consciousness, digital technology, skilled manpower, and preservation of India’s traditional textile heritage.
Dr. Marwah appreciated the leadership of Dr. R. A. Lal and the collective efforts of NISTI members in promoting professional excellence and advancing the textile sector in North India.
The Board Meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen textile education, research, innovation, professional networking, and industry-academia partnerships, while creating greater opportunities for the next generation of textile and fashion professionals.