The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has achieved recognition at the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai, China, from 23 to 26 September 2026. NIFT students competed across four skill areas and brought home two silver medals and one medal for excellence, contributing to India’s overall performance at the global event.
The WorldSkills Competition Shanghai 2026 drew more than 1,400 young competitors from around 68 countries and regions across 64 different skills. India fielded its largest-ever contingent with 70 competitors across 63 skills and secured 10th position overall, winning 6 silver medals and 20 medals for excellence in total.
Key facts
- NIFT students competed in Fashion Technology, Digital Interactive Media Design, Retail Sales and Visual Merchandising
- Ms. Vidhi Niravkumar Suthar (NIFT Gandhinagar) won a medal for excellence in Fashion Technology
- Mr. Kovid Ajay Gangrade (NIFT Mumbai) won a silver medal in Digital Interactive Media Design
- Ms. Saniya Joshi (NIFT Panchkula) won a silver medal in Retail Sales
- Ms. Anuja Ajay Vare (NIFT Bengaluru) represented India in Visual Merchandising
- Competition held in Shanghai, China, 23-26 September 2026
- NIFT has participated in Fashion Technology at WorldSkills since 2011
NIFT’s participation areas
NIFT represented India across four distinct skill domains at the Shanghai competition. Fashion Technology, a traditional area where NIFT has competed since 2011, saw Ms. Vidhi Niravkumar Suthar represent the country. She underwent four months of intensive training at NIFT New Delhi under Prof. (Dr.) Monika Gupta, an Indian expert with extensive experience in Fashion Design and WorldSkills competitions. The preparation emphasised technical proficiency, precision, compliance with international standards and performing under competitive conditions.
Two other NIFT students won silver medals in emerging skill categories. Mr. Kovid Ajay Gangrade secured his silver medal in Digital Interactive Media Design, while Ms. Saniya Joshi did the same in Retail Sales. These two skill areas represent newer additions to WorldSkills and reflect how the fashion and creative industries are evolving. Both skills demonstrate the growing integration of technology, digital platforms and customer experience focus within the sector.
Ms. Anuja Ajay Vare from NIFT Bengaluru also participated in Visual Merchandising, rounding out NIFT’s representation across four different skill domains.
What WorldSkills participation means for NIFT
Beyond the medals themselves, NIFT’s involvement in the WorldSkills Competition serves broader institutional goals. Participation exposes students to global occupational standards, emerging technologies and international industry benchmarks. For NIFT as an organisation, competing at WorldSkills also provides feedback on training methodologies and helps the institute integrate global best practices into its academic curricula and skill-development programmes.
The success of NIFT participants demonstrates the institute’s focus on developing professionals capable of competing at the highest international levels. The medals reflect NIFT’s ability to combine expertise across traditional fashion skills, creative and digital design, and modern retail competencies.
What this means for you
If you are a student at NIFT or considering fashion, design or retail education, these results show that NIFT training can prepare you to compete globally. The institute offers exposure to international standards and expectations beyond what typical college education provides. For students interested in Digital Interactive Media Design or Retail Sales alongside fashion, NIFT’s success suggests these skill combinations are being taught to competitive levels.
Employers in the fashion, creative and retail sectors can also see from these results that NIFT graduates and trainees meet international benchmarks. This may be relevant if you are job hunting in these industries.