Date: 29th May 2026

Location: NIFT Campus, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Students race against the clock to redesign uniforms for Gujarat’s ITI trainees — with Rs. 1 lakh in prize money at stake

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Gandhinagar today kicked off an exciting 24-hour design challenge — the Uniform Design Hackathon 2026. The event was inaugurated this morning at 11:00 AM on the NIFT campus by Dr. Pranav Vora, Joint Director, NIFT Gandhinagar, and Ms. N.B. Rajput, Additional Director, Directorate of Employment & Training, Department of Labour and Employment, Government of Gujarat. The hackathon is being held jointly by NIFT Gandhinagar and the Directorate of Employment & Training, Government of Gujarat.

What Is the Hackathon About?

Four student teams — two from NIFT Gandhinagar and two from Gujarat University — are working non-stop for 24 hours to design functional, affordable, and modern uniforms for trainees at Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across Gujarat. The teams are tackling a real-world problem set by the state government: designing uniforms for two distinct categories of ITI trades.

• Soft ITI Trades — such as Computer Operations and Apparel Design
• Rigorous ITI Trades — such as Welding and Automobile Repair

Teams have the option to propose a unisex design or include a separate design for women in the form of Indian ethnic wear. The winning design must be cost-effective, with a budget cap of Rs. 1,000 per uniform — covering fabric, garment, and stitching.

Rs. 1 Lakh in Prize Money Up for Grabs

The hackathon carries a total prize pool of Rs. 1,00,000, distributed across the top three teams:

• 1st Place: Rs. 50,000
• 2nd Place: Rs. 30,000
• 3rd Place: Rs. 20,000

Beyond the prize money, the winning team’s design stands to make a lasting impact — it could be adopted as the official uniform for ITI trainees across Gujarat, giving student designers a rare chance to see their work worn by thousands of real-world users.

Why Does This Matter?

Gujarat’s ITIs train thousands of young people every year in skilled trades that power the state’s industries. Yet, there has been no standardised, purpose-built uniform that reflects the dignity, identity, and safety requirements of these trainees. This hackathon directly addresses that gap.

 

How Does the Hackathon Work?

The competition runs across three rounds over two days, with teams evaluated by a Joint Evaluation Committee at each stage:

• Round 1 (Today evening): Design research, concept boards, fabric and colour boards
• Round 2 (Tonight): Idea design, illustrations, and flat drawings
• Final Round (Tomorrow morning): Full solution presentation with technical specifications

Teams are judged on creativity, design feasibility, aesthetics, sustainability, and the quality of their presentation — each carrying equal 20% weightage. Participants remain within the campus boundaries for the full 24 hours, with all meals and accommodation provided by NIFT.

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