Looking back on the significance of this year’s edition, Dr. Sadhna, associate professor of fashion designnoted that FTSC 2025 “demonstrated that fashion is much more than an aesthetic practice – it is a transformative force capable of driving social consciousness, cultural preservation and environmental responsibility.” She added that the ideas and innovations shared at the conference “affirm our commitment to nurturing designers who think critically, act ethically and create with purpose.”
Conference highlights
The two-day hybrid conference brought together a vibrant mix of national and international scientists, designers, entrepreneurs, artisans and students. FTSC 2025 received 172 abstracts from 71 national and 14 international institutions, of which 103 papers were selected after peer review:
- 12 presented offline on campus
- 91 presented online
These presentations explored crucial themes including cultural sustainability, circular economy, ethical design, AI in creative practice and responsible production, highlighting the power of fashion to influence both social and environmental change.
Key collaborators included Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), the British University in Egypt and BHU as knowledge partners; Weavers’ Service Center Hyderabad, IBA, Avani, Anjali Jha, Erisri, OOSeven and Earthyweaves as industrial partners; Springer & Fashion Practice Journal as publishing partner; and Texfash as media partner.
Day 1: Keynotes & Presentations
The conference opened with a ceremonial lighting of the lamp and welcome by Dr. Adity SaxenaDean, School of Arts & Design, followed by the publication of the ISBN Abstract Book.
Key sessions:
- Dr. Patsy Perry on Relational autonomy and meaningful work in the global apparel industry
- Dr. Kaustav Sengupta on Cultural sustainability through AI-driven creativity
- Dr. Francesco Mazzarella on Weaving the threads of social change
Industry insights were provided by:
- Dr. S. Arun Kumaron the empowerment of artisans and the revival of crafts
- Rajana Kandari and Shweta JunejaIKEA Services India, on sustainable purchasing and social inclusion
Offline and online research presentations continued into the afternoon with discussions on culture, digital innovation, pedagogy and sustainable production.
Day 2: Innovation, inclusivity and sustainability
Day 2 started with an expert lecture by Dr. Venkatesh Chennam Vijay from Birmingham City University (UK), who presented an AI and AR-enabled sari mirror that combines heritage with technology to enable sustainable shopping experiences.
The sessions covered youth participation, behavior change, inclusive fashion, circular systems, adaptive design and ethical entrepreneurship. The innovative ideas presented reaffirmed the potential of fashion as a tool for empowerment and social innovation.
Farewell session
Best Paper Awards recognized outstanding contributions that combine academic rigor with social impact. Prof. Rajesh Kumar highlighted the growing influence of the FTSC series and its growing global footprint.
In his acceptance speech said Prof. Arun Kumar Gupta acknowledged the support of the Woxsen leadership, including the vice president Dr. Raul V. Rodrigues and Dan Dr. Adity Saxenaas well as partners, speakers, researchers, students and volunteers whose contributions shaped the event’s success.
Conclusion
FTSC 2025 reaffirmed that fashion is not only an expression of style, but also a catalyst for social transformation. Through responsible design, cultural continuity and technological innovation, the conference showed how creativity can shape a more sustainable, ethical and inclusive future. With this momentum, Woxsen University now looks ahead to FTSC 2026 and continues its mission to advance purpose-driven design and global collaboration.
About Woxsen University, Hyderabad: Located in Hyderabad, Woxsen University is one of the first private universities in the state of Telangana, India. Known for its 200-acre state-of-the-art campus and infrastructure, Woxsen University offers new-age, disruptive programs in Business, Technology, Art & Design, Architecture, Law and Liberal Arts & Humanities.
Woxsen also houses Asia’s largest sports infrastructure, spread over 60 hectares. With more than 175 Global Partner Universities and a strong industrial connection, Woxsen is recognized as one of the top universities in the field of Academic Excellence and Global Edge. Woxsen has also achieved the QS Business Masters World Ranking 2025, Rank #5 All India, Top 100 B-Schools by Times B-School Ranking 2025, Rank #6, Asia Pacific, Bloomberg Best B-School and has been included in India’s Best B-Schools beyond IIMs for the fourth year in a row by Dalal Street Investment Journal 2025. Woxsen is ranked by Outlook I-CARE as one of the Top Professional Colleges in India for its undergraduate programs, securing All India Rank 12 in the Top 130 BBA Private Institutes, All India Rank 20 in the Top 160 B.Tech Private Institutes, All India Rank 3 in the Top 25 Design Private Institutes and All India Rank 3 in the Top 30 B.Arch Private Institutes.
Diana Boidyo, +91-8121010968, diana.boidyo@woxsen.edu.in
“This article is part of the sponsored content program.”
Published on November 14, 2025
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