Chandigarh Design Festival 2023 kicks off with resounding success, featuring global design leaders and a fashion show

Chandigarh, April 21, 2023: The much-awaited Chandigarh Design Festival 2023 at Chitkara University began today with a promising launch, starting with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, marking the commencement of the two-day festival celebrating the power of design. The first day of the Chandigarh Design Festival 2023 which is being organised in academic partnership with Chitkara Design School was a resounding success, showcasing the best in innovative design and fashion, and set the tone for two days of insightful talks and discussions by a stellar line-up of global design leaders.

The day one of the festival witnessed an eclectic mix of thought-provoking speeches and engaging conversations on design, innovation, and sustainability. Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University, commented on the significance of a design festival in an ever evolving, ‘glocal’ world by saying, “This festival provides an opportunity for the global design community to showcase their latest works, exchange ideas, and collaborate on new projects at a local scale, and this is where the seeds lie of a lasting impact on our society. In today's rapidly evolving world, where innovation is the key to success, this festival serves as a platform to explore new frontiers of design and push the boundaries of what is possible.”

The President of the World Design Organisation, David Kusuma, delivered a captivating keynote address on 'India Design Footprint on the Globe Stage'. He shared his insights on how India can create a lasting impact on the global design landscape. Kusuma will also be present for day two of the festival today where he will talk about ‘Designing a New Era: India's Impact on the Global Design Landscape’. Sanyukta Shrestha, Founder & Creative Director of Sanyukta Shrestha, took the stage to speak on the topic of 'Sustainable Fashion: The New Normal'. She emphasized the importance of sustainability in fashion design and how it can create a positive impact on the environment. Abhijit De, Former Vice President at SAP - Innovation, shared his inspiring journey as a corporate innovator in his speech titled 'Journey of a Corporate Innovator'. He shared his experiences and insights on how to foster a culture of innovation in the corporate world.

The Fashion Show featuring the latest designs and trends in the fashion industry was one of the highlights of the day. It showcased the creativity and ingenuity of Indian fashion designers with designs from traditional designs and denim reinvented.

The first day of the festival ended on a high note with a vote of thanks delivered by Gopal Meena, Vice President – Strategy Initiatives, Chitkara Design School, who expressed his gratitude to all the speakers, participants, and attendees for making day one of the festival a resounding success. Day two of the festival which will be held at Chitkara International School Chandigarh, will offer more talks, panel discussions, addresses and live exhibits on the continuing themes of the future of design, sustainability and the increasingly imperative role that India is set to play on the global fashion scene.