NIFT Mumbai Hosts Spectrum’26 “Desiderium” Celebrating Creativity and Culture
17 March 2026: National Institute of Fashion Technology Mumbai hosted its annual cultural festival, Spectrum’26, on 13 and 14 March 2026. The two-day event brought together students from NIFT and other institutions to participate in cultural, creative, and sporting activities across the campus.
The theme for this year’s festival was “DESIDERIUM,” a Latin word meaning nostalgia. The concept focused on Indian nostalgia expressed through objects, traditions, and memories. Elements such as jhumkas, childhood candies, Holi pichkaaris and kites were used as references to illustrate how everyday experiences can evoke memories and cultural associations. The theme aimed to explore how nostalgic elements continue to influence contemporary creativity.
The festival was inaugurated in the presence of Aishwarya Suresh, Global Head of Brand at The Knowledge Society (TKS), and Anud Singh Dhaka, who attended as the special guest.
Addressing the gathering, Ajit Kumar Khare, Director of NIFT Mumbai, delivered an address and formally declared the commencement of Spectrum’26 DESIDERIUM.
During the two-day event, the festival programme included competitions and activities in sports, performing arts, literary expression, fashion, and design. Sporting events included futsal, basketball, volleyball, chess, and table tennis.
The cultural segment included activities such as Colour Walk, Reframe, Creative Writing, Debate, Solo Dance, Solo Singing, Group Dance, Bayaan-e-Mehfil, Stand-up Comedy, Short Film, Movie Poster Making, Film Trivia, Behind the Veil of Logic, Makeup & Hair Competition, Saree Draping & Styling, RunwayVerse, Texture Hunt, and Mr. & Ms. Spectrum.
Students also presented Sustainable Installations that highlighted design approaches related to sustainability, responsible practices, and environmental awareness.
The event also included a Meena Bazaar and student-managed stalls where handmade products, accessories, artworks and merchandise created by students were displayed. These stalls allowed students to present their work and interact with visitors and participants.
One of the key events of Spectrum’26 “Desiderium” was the Fashion Show. Students from departments including Fashion Design, Textile Design, Accessory Design, Knitwear Design, Fashion Communication, Fashion Technology, Space Design, and Fashion Management presented collections interpreting the festival theme. The presentations referenced memories, traditions, and cultural symbols such as rituals, childhood experiences, local melas, Panchatantra stories, and personal memories.
The fashion show was evaluated by a panel comprising Jigar Shah, Founder & Creative Director at Jigar & Nikita; Rohit Singh Rajput, Head Wedding Couture Stylist with Kalki Fashion; and Paulmi Dhawan, co-founder and designer of Paulmi & Harsh.
The evening programmes included a Battle of Bands competition and an artist performance. The festival concluded with a DJ Night for students.
During the closing ceremony, prizes and certificates were presented to winners across the various competitions. The results of the Fashion Show were also announced, marking the conclusion of Spectrum’26 “Desiderium”.
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