Valley girl to make foray into fashion industry

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 24

Disappointed by the absence of reputed fashion institutes in the country to extend their branch in the conflict-ridden Valley, 25-year-old Valley girl will be starting her own fashion academy to train the future generation of women entrepreneurs here.Insha S Qazi is the first Valley women to start a full-fledged fashion designing institute in Baramulla.

“In two years, I have been only disappointed and discouraged as no institute wanted to come to Kashmir due to the political conflict here. They didn’t want to take the risk of opening an institute here” Insha, a resident of Srinagar, said.

After completing her education from London, she returned to Kashmir to set-up something on her own. It was after two years of constant struggle and research that made her idea into a reality as she is going to launch her training institute next week in Baramulla’s Parihaspora Pattan. “I did my civil engineering in Kashmir and then I realised it was not my field. I pursued my degree in international business and interior designing from London. I came back to Kashmir to use my skills here and help women to become the agents of change and growth in a place which is only misinterpreted as not a safe place for business,” she added saying that she has used all her savings and sold her jewellery to take a step towards her dream. “I didn’t ask my parents for money, I wanted to do everything on my own,” she said.

Named as SSMD-School of Fashion and Design, the initiative is a first of its kind in Kashmir where young Valley women, who are eager to learn new skills and want to take the traditional Kashmir art to new heights, will get a chance to polish their skills. Insha says the institute is just the beginning for a new fashion era in Kashmir.

“I met students of Kashmir in known fashion institutes of the country. They are eager to choose new fields and having an academy here will help those who are interested but can’t go out of Kashmir. Outside they are bound to pay hefty amounts, so I thought why not give them these things at their doorsteps at an affordable price,” she added.

Due to a dearth of professional institutes in Kashmir, thousands of students go outside every year to pursue degrees in interior designing and fashion. Insha said she had kept an affordable fee. “My target is young women and they can pursue short-term as well as long-term courses and then set-up their own units. Unemployment can be reduced through these institutions. I will have my faculty from national as well as international institutions so that this becomes a perfect learning centre,” said Insha, who plans to expand her institute to other districts as well. “There is a good interest of youth towards fashion in Baramulla and Sopore. I didn’t want to restrict myself to Srinagar, that’s why I started it here first,” she added.

The institute has its affiliation with the VIDM Institute of Designing and Management, Delhi. Being located far from the city, the institute has a hostel and transport facility for students.“We can take the rich culture and art of the Valley to new heights with innovation and creativity. We just need skills and a professional touch,” she adds with a smile.