JD Institute of Fashion Technology and JD School of Design presented at the Mysore Fashion Week as their Education Partner with its experimental collection “Heritage 2.0” that explores traditional collections through futuristic silhouettes on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of March. The event was witnessed by the honourable guests, Mr. M. Ramesh Babu, who has served as a VIII Addl District and Sessions Judge in Mysuru, presiding over civil appeals at the District Court, Mr. Vijay Ramegowda, MLA candidate, KR Pet, Mysuru and Mr. Prabhu, a renowned actor in the Kannada Film Industry.

JD has been empowering designers for over 38 years, with a legacy that encourages innovation, creativity, and education in design. The institute has been at the forefront of shaping future designers through technology and AI-enabled design courses.

The showcase was spearheaded by project leads Ms. Suma and Ms. Nitika Sharma, offering students the opportunity to engage with a live creative brief. The design and styling teams feature M. Prakalya, Ayush Patra, Siddharth Nair, and Sruthi G, reflecting the institute’s vibrant and collaborative creative ecosystem. 

The collection envisioned a 2125 era of Karnataka, where the traditional textiles were not Relical Preservations but were resituated into Experimental Drapes, sculptural silhouettes, metallic accents, and architectural layering. 

“Heritage 2.0” reframed the narrative of Six Iconic regional textiles – Mysore Silk, Ilkal Saree, Patteda Anchu, Molakalmuru Saree, Udupi Cotton, and Guledgudda Khana fabric through the amalgamation of traditional handlooms with futuristic couture elements such as Metallic structures, Architectural draping, and Modular garment construction. The collection is a thematic act that represents the roots, ritual, royalty, rebellion, renaissance, and future, emphasising the evolution of Heritage within contemporary fashion narratives. This culmination leads to the ensemble titled “The Karnataka Constellation.” It is a testimony of JD ‘s continued commitment to celebrating cultural heritage while inspiring innovative design thinking among emerging fashion designers. 

The prestigious runway also witnessed the presentation of another collection, “Raasika”, by Sanjana R, a student of JD. This collection was a reinvention of the narrative that speaks of art, music, and self-expression in contemporary fashion. Inspired by the Sanskrit term “Raasika”, which refers to a lover of art and beauty, the collection finds inspiration in Ragamala paintings, which are a visual representation of classical ragas. The collection was a fusion of the imperial style of Rajasthan’s miniature paintings and the temple and handloom traditions of Karnataka. In “Raasika”, Sanjana presented a statement of fashion as art, reinventing tradition in contemporary fashion while embodying the essence of innovation nurtured at JD.

Mr Nealesh Dalal, Managing Trustee of JD Educational Trust and Founder of JD School of Design, said, “At JD, we believe that design education must encourage students to respect heritage while reimagining it for the future. Showcases like ‘Heritage 2.0’ and ‘Raasika’ reflect how our students are learning to translate traditional narratives into contemporary expressions, using creativity, technology, and cultural understanding. Platforms like Mysore Fashion Week provide invaluable exposure for young designers to present ideas that are both rooted and forward-looking.”

JD Institute of Fashion Technology and JD School of Design’s showcase at Mysore Fashion Week highlighted the institute’s commitment to nurturing emerging designers through industry exposure and innovation rooted in heritage.