X-Rite Pantone, a global color standards and color science company, and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), India’s premier institute for fashion education, design, management, and technology, have entered a collaboration to strengthen color management skills for India’s fashion and textile workforce. The partnership addresses an industry need for more consistent digital color communication from design concept through production, aiming to reduce ambiguity, improve quality, and prepare emerging talent for increasingly complex supply chains.
“As the global textile industry becomes increasingly digital, the ability to communicate color accurately and consistently is becoming a strategic capability – not just for individual companies, but for entire manufacturing ecosystems,” said Raj Shah, vice president of marketing, X-Rite Pantone.
Shah continued, “Our collaboration with NIFT reflects a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of designers and industry professionals with the digital skills and color expertise needed to strengthen India’s competitiveness, accelerate innovation, and support the continued evolution of its textile and apparel industry. Together, we hope to contribute to a future where India is recognized not only for its rich textile heritage, but also for its leadership in digitally enabled manufacturing excellence.”
The collaboration will focus on three core deliverables – classroom access to X-Rite Pantone color management technology and resources at NIFT Delhi; a dedicated color education session for incoming students; and professional development programs for alumni and faculty at the X-Rite Pantone Brand Experience Centre in Gurugram (in Delhi-NCR).
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to providing students and faculty with exposure to the latest technologies shaping the industry,” said Tanu Kashyap, director general, NIFT. To further strengthen color expertise within academia, NIFT faculty members will participate in a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) Faculty Development Program hosted at the X-Rite Pantone Brand Experience Centre. The program will cover color and appearance fundamentals, color measurement technologies, workflow implementation, and practical exercises designed to help educators bring industry-relevant color knowledge into their curriculum.
“Color touches every stage of product development, yet it is often underestimated as a source of risk, cost, and inefficiency,” said Pieter Mulder, director of global brand accounts, X-Rite Pantone. “Through this collaboration, students will gain practical knowledge that connects creative intent with manufacturing reality, helping them make more informed design decisions from the start.”
By combining academic excellence with industry expertise, the collaboration aims to help build a stronger foundation for color education and create new opportunities for learning, research, and professional development across India’s fashion and textile sectors.
