About Us

Sualkuchi Institute of Fashion Technology (SIFT) - was set up in 2008 and the Institute was formally inaugurated, on 30th August 2008 by then Chief Minister of Assam Late Tarun Gogoi. SIFT was established by the initiative of Kamrup District Administration, Govt. of Assam under the project “INTEGRATED PILOT PROJECT FOR THE WEAVERS OF SUALKUCHI & ADJOINING AREAS” to enhance skill up-gradation, and offer holistic development of weavers and entrepreneurs. Initially SIFT collaborated with the North Eastern Council & National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata (NIFT). A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with NIFT, Kolkata to provide advisory and technical assistantship for design innovation related technology upgradation and product diversification. Since then SIFT has been providing Integrated training programs on Fashion & Textile design.   

After September 2015, there has been a new development in the training programs undertaken by SIFT. The old integrated training program has been bifurcated into two different departments – ‘Fashion Technology’ and ‘Textile Technology’. Since then, SIFT has been conducting many training programs in these two areas successfully with financial assistance from various sources, like TATA Trust, Power Grid, North East Transmission Company, SIRD, etc. SIFT also conducts skill development trainings under National Skill Development Council (NSDC), Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission(ASRLM) and Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM).  

SIFT is a registered Society under the Societies Registration Act,1860 on 30th August, 2008 and its registration Number is RS/KAM(R)/264/1/54 of 2020-2021. 

The administration of SIFT is run by the Governing Body, headed by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Bishwa Sharma as the Chairman, Deputy Commissioner Kamrup(Amingaon) as the Vice - Chairman, District Development Commissioner Kamrup (Amingaon) as the Member Secretary and members include, Block Development Officer, Sualkuchi Block, Principal of SIFT and 3 Sualkuchi local nominated members namely, Dr. Nihar Ranjan Kalita, Shri Dinesh Baishya and Shri Naresh Sharma. Apart from this for running the day to day affairs of the institute there is an Executive Committee headed by The Deputy Commissioner Kamrup(Amingaon) as the Chairman, District Development Commissioner Kamrup(Amingaon) as the Vice-Chairman, Principal SIFT as the Member Secretary, and Members include Block Development Officer of Sualkuchi Block and 3 Sualkuchi local nominated members namely, Dr. Nihar Ranjan Kalita, Shri Dinesh Baishya and Shri Naresh Sharma.

In this 12  (Twelve years) SIFT has trained more than 3000, out of which more than 50 % are engaged in various organisations or self employed in the fields of Fashion & Textiles. SIFT has been conducting skill development trainings extensively. The USP of SIFT is that it offers extensive practical trainings which no other institute of the same category is providing currently, the reason being the availability of very good resources and infrastructure. After training so many successful students, SIFT now is capable to design and conduct courses which are suitable for the requirements of the market, SIFT designs courses and syllabus as per the need and requirements of the beneficiaries, providing skill specific and detail training in all trades related to Handloom and Fashion.  Apart from Handloom & Fashion, SIFT has recently introduced courses on Beauty and Wellness, offering short time courses on Makeup and Hairstyling. 

Students Successfully completing the courses at SIFT are capable to handle independently any handloom cluster projects as Master trainer, Cluster coordinator or Cluster designer. Most of the students passing out from SIFT are currently working at various Handloom clusters of Handloom & Textiles department, Weavers Service Centre and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship. They also get hands on knowledge to start their own independent production house or Fashion or Handloom boutique. 

Apart from imparting training, SIFT also develops new innovative designs and motifs for the market. SIFT has developed motifs inspired from the Grater Adjutant Stork which is an Endangered Species of stork locally known as the ‘Hargilla’. This species is found only in Assam and parts of Cambodia. In Assam, Kamrup district is home to almost 50% of this species. But it is quite depressing to know that very few people are aware of this endangered species. Of late, conservation efforts have been taken up due to the initiative taken by District Administration and a few NGOs with a large scale participation of people in certain localities of Kamrup district which are identified as the preferred habitat of this endangered species.  

SIFT is doing its bit by using motifs inspired from this bird and developing various products with a view to bring mass awareness about this pride of Assam through textiles, garments and products. SIFT has also trained women from Dadara of Kamrup district in Textile Design and Development, who are at the moment actively participating in the preservation of this species. State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) supported the training program financially. The women folk of Dadara can now weave their ‘hargilla’ on fabrics and make the world aware of the species and also earn a living doing it. Hariglla woven Makhela Chador and Gamosas have become a brand in itself now.  

SIFT also gives regular technical support to various organizations which are engaged in the fields of handloom and operates without any technical knowledge. SIFT continuously guides them on the technical aspects as well as conducting trainings, providing trainers, preparation of DPRs for their projects, designing value added product line for them and also supporting them with market linkage. SIFT will stay committed to its Vision, Mission and Values. This ensures that SIFT will contribute in its own way to a highly diverge socio-economic contexts to satisfy the needs and interests of the society. If proper support be given, SIFT will continue to take up many such developmental projects in the near future.

The Deputy Commissioner Kamrup (Rural) is the Vice- Chairman on the Institute  and  all  activities in the Institute is closely monitored by the chair of the Vice Chairman and all activities and developments of the institute are with approval of the Vice Chairman.  

Revival of SIFT started from August 2015, with Kamrup District Administration hiring a new Principal for the Institute and then getting training programs through CSR funding from various private companies. The first training program after revival, which Kamrup District Administration managed to get for the Institute was from October 2015, sponsored by Assam.  

Gramin Vikash Bank. Deputy Commissioner Kamrup as the Vice Chairman also signed MOU’s for various training programs at SIFT with companies like Power Grid, North tfast Transmission Company, TATA Trusts CML, Indian Institute of tfntrepreneurship etc. Since then all training programs at are funded from the CSR funds of these companies.  

Not only in funding, Kamrup District Administration also managed to get Muga silk reeling machines from BTC, and Muga silk cocoons to SIFT for conducting training on Muga yarn reeling at SIFT.