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INTERVIEW
MS. RAJU BHATIA Consultant, Fashion/Academics Brand Strategist
DIVING INTO THE NEW NORMAL
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She has been contributing to the fashion industry for more than 50 years With her immense background of experience as creator, advisor, consultant and educationist, she gives a glimpse of the changes the industry is going throughhighlighting the conscious consumers and how manufacturers are ecologically trying to make changes to contribute to a better tomorrow.
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Interview taken by Ms. Sukanya Kandarkar and edited by Ms. Prachi Ghelot Tell us about your educational and professional journey. Over the past two decades, I have been successfully leading the Fashion Department at B. D. Somani Institute of Art & Fashion Technology. I have sacrificially committed 50 sublime years in the dynamic field of Fashion and Fashion Education. After my graduation, from JJ school of Arts, I effectively and successfully created award winning campaigns for a lot of Mega Brands at her spell at prestigious Advertising Agency - Lintas. In the late 70s, I started my own unit in Mumbai. I have been creating styles for over 26 years now and also exporting to other countries, especially the Middle East and the US. I have been and am a guide for some Labels as Design and Brand advisor and also functioning as Fashion and Textile trend consultant to a lot of manufacturers across India, firmly promoting the ‘Make in India’ ideology from over 10 years. I have worked intimately with the National School for the Blind and the Rehabiliation of the physically handicapped. I am currently working with OM CREATIONS and MBA FOUNDATION- both NGOs working with Children and Adults across inabilities. Presently associated with the following• Member - Advisory Board - CIAE • Member - Local Committee - ATDC • Trustee - Trustee Board of India - The Society of Dyers and Colourists – U.K. • (awarded the SDC Bronze Medal for contribution in the Fashion Industry) • Member - Steering Committee - Consortium of Green Fashion • Best Educationist Awards – International Institute of Education & Management, New Delhi • Awarded the Women of Dignity - International Award 2018 • Corporate Mentor and Academic Supervisor - Podar World College - IMBA Being an educationist, how has your journey unfolded ? As an academician, every day is a learning platform. I am equally excited each day to go into the study hall and gain some new useful knowledge from my new group. Each age group, each youngster has added to my own development as an educationist. In the wake of heading BD Somani Institute for recent years and tutoring such a significant number of establishments and understudies, I think we are continually learning and unlearning. At my Age, its significant and essen-
