JASPAL KALRA
RESEARCH FELLOW
ACADEMICIAN AND
DESIGN CONSULTANT: CRAFT & FASHION
Jaspal
specializes in product realization processes in Fashion. He likes to work with traditional
craft sector for its revival and design development. With over a decades design
experience working in close association with craft sector under his own brand
‘Ushnik’ , with various non-government organizations, designers like Rina
Dhaka, retail brand Freelook and export houses and buyers like Splash, Lee
Cooper Jaspal has become an expert in allied fields of fashion and
problem-solving. Currently, he is working on research project for
sustainability, product enhancement and craft development through design
education. He is Masters of Art in Design from Pearl Academy (Nottingham Trent
University) with dissertation project on product development with Chikan embroidery,
also worked as an Assistant Professor with the Fashion Design Department of
Pearl Academy. He has Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from
Nottingham Trent University(2012) and Graduate Diploma in Fashion Design from
NIIFT, Mohali(1999). His current work is with craft development, curriculum
development for design using traditional knowledge, creative teaching. His goal
is to enhance design skills of people with concern for environment and social impact.
It
was in 2009 that he entered into academics joining NIIFT as a visiting faculty.
He has taught appreciation of crafts, design and technical modules, at Pearl
Academy, for realization of designs into garments. He has been working with
craft of Chikankari since he was given an assignment during his undergraduate
studies in 1997. He later worked towards product development using Chikan, to
realize that it needs artisan awareness of design skill and quality appreciation,
as well as consumer awareness about this art-form. Since past few years has
been researching on ethical and sustainable design and processes of
‘Chikankari’ titled Essence of an Indigenous Heritage of Endurance and
undertaking small experiments with artisan groups. It has led him to advance
his research on natural dyes, organic processes.
These
experiences gave a new vision to Jaspal. He developed the curriculum for one
year course based on sustainable practices and traditional garment knowledge at
Pearl Academy, India and recently for garment realization education program to
augment works of artisans of Kutch, India. Understanding context, optimism and
responsibility form wheels of all his endeavors.