18 Women Inmates Graduate As Designers From Tihar’s Fashion Lab

Tihar Jail’s Fashion Laboratory held its first convocation ceremony at Dilli Haat on Saturday (Sept 9). And 18 women inmates graduated as fashion designers.

At the fashion show, jail inmates and models walked the ramp wearing clothes designed by the graduates. White was the reigning colour. The models wore white kurtas and shirts paired with pants and dhotis made of Khadi. They accessorized the look with Kolhapuris and metallic arm bracelets or elegant neck bands.

Fashion institute, Pearl Academy, had taken up the job to set up an in-house fashion school in the jail in collaboration with Delhi Prisons. The course started with 24 inmates, but the authorities had to release six of them as they had finished their jail term.

The laboratory -- established in February this year -- has all modern facilities. It houses an all-industrial standard machinery, complete with pattern tables and sewing machines.

“These initiatives also proved to be therapeutic for the inmates. We can notice changes in their behaviour. You can see those who were earlier unhappy now interacting and participating more heartily,” Sudhir Yadav, DG, Tihar Jail

Sudhir Yadav, DG, Tihar Jail, and Professor Nandita Abraham, CEO, Pearl Academy, awarded certificates to all the graduates. “We focused on three broad areas — illustration, pattern-making, stitching and designing. It will help them work in a factory or start something on their own,” said Nandita, Indian Express reported.

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Delhi Law Minister Kailash Gahlot was the chief guest at the show. Swati Maliwal, chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women, and Vinai Kumar Saxena, chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, also attended the event.

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“These initiatives also proved to be therapeutic for the inmates. We can notice changes in their behaviour. You can see those who were earlier unhappy now interacting and participating more heartily,” Sudhir Yadav said.

“Tihar Fashion Laboratory is in line with government's 'Skill India Mission' initiative. But it has gone a step further to redefine the meaning of integration serving to build an inclusive community," Pearl Academy said in a statement. "The inmates have been trained by the academy in pattern-making and making of Indian wear,” the academy said, News 18 reported.

Picture credit- News Nation