Course Details
Several undergraduate, advance diploma, and certificate courses in accessory and lifestyle products, crafts, and accessory designing are offered in India. Some short-term courses are also available to build a decorative career as an accessory stylist, merchandiser, or production assistant. The minimum qualification for these courses is 10+2 pass in any stream. The course duration varies from 1-4 years depending upon the course and institute offering it. Post graduate courses in this field are conducted by a handful of institutes. By seeking admission in these courses, one can develop his/her competence in basic skills and understanding of the processes and principles involved in lifestyle accessory designing.
Career Prospects
Lifestyle accessory design courses envisage work opportunities in costumes, jewelry, leatherwear, glass products, footwear, watches, scarves, giftware, tableware, and silverware industries. Though the curriculum includes a vast area of designing, one can opt for a specialized area and explore accordingly. One needs ample patience and determination with high communication and creative skills to be successful in this industry. Large firms employ staff designers or commission freelance designers. Small workshops and firms, which usually work for orders from leading fashion houses or for particular wholesalers and retail outlets, also hire accessory designers. Lifestyle accessory designers can work as in-house or freelance designers who design and craft these accessories. They can start self-owned enterprises and popularize their products by participating in various trade fairs and exhibitions.
Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Some premier institutes offering a gamut of courses in lifestyle accessory designing include: National Institutes of Fashion Technology (NIFTs) in New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai; National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad; Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University, Jaipur; DNADS Institute, Hyderabad; Arch Academy of Design, Jaipur; Pearl Academy Of Fashion, New Delhi; Design & Innovation Academy (DIA), Noida; Gemological Institute of India (GII), Mumbai; Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi; National Institute of Jewellery Design and Technology, New Delhi; Creations - the School of Design and Technology, Pune; School of Fashion Technology (SOFT), Pune; and India International Trade Center, Mumbai.
Remuneration
Lifestyle accessory designing is a highly lucrative and flourishing career option. Fresh graduates from this field can easily be absorbed at Rs. 10,000 to 15,000 per month, depending upon the nature of their employer. Export houses and MNCs in this field offer high salaries, along with several perks and incentives. Earnings of self-employed designers vary upon the extent of their business, popularity, and innovative skills.
