Welcome To NIF Thane

Faculty Members

Our Team

Expert Faculty at NIF Global Thane, Mumbai

Learn directly from experienced fashion designers who share industry insights, practical techniques, and real-world guidance to help students understand professional workflows, creativity, and career expectations in fashion design, interior design and design management

Mr. Vivek Gautam

Director

  • Vivek Gautam is a former international-level badminton player.
  • Established the institute in 2003 with the vision of delivering high-quality education to aspiring designers pursuing opportunities in Mumbai.
  • Aims to position NIF Thane as a hub for innovative and revolutionary designers.
  • Focused on driving transformation and advancement within the field of design.

Mamta Gautam

Center head

  • Mamta Gautam serves as the Centre Head of NIF Thane.
  • Comes from a family of garment exporters, with early exposure to fabrics and the fashion industry.
  • Possesses a strong design sensibility and in-depth industry knowledge.
  • Provides students with practical guidance and effective leadership.
  • Holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics.
  • Committed to nurturing creative talent while upholding high academic standards at the institute.

Gunalaxmi Gaitonde

Head of the Department of Fashion

  • Gunalaxmi Gaitonde is the Head of the Department of Fashion at NIF Thane.
  • Holds an M.Sc degree along with diplomas in Textile Design and Fashion & Apparel Design from Sophia Polytechnic, and a Master’s in Fashion Technology.
  • Brings over 30 years of extensive industry and academic experience.
  • Has contributed significantly to curriculum development for MSBTE in Fashion and Textile Designing.

Sunita Menon

Senior Professor

  • M.Com gold medallist with a Diploma in Fashion Design from SNDT University.
  • Over 15 years of teaching experience in fashion education.
  • Specializes in Pattern Making and Garment Construction, with expertise in Draping and related subjects.
  • Known for a detail-oriented approach, emphasizing quality craftsmanship and creative thinking.
  • Encourages students to exceed their comfort zones and achieve their full potential.

Archana Nagpal

Senior Faculty Fashion Design

  • Fashion Design graduate from the pioneer batch of NIFT Mumbai.
  • Over 20 years of experience across domestic brands, export houses, and women’s wear design.
  • Expertise in consulting and developing comprehensive fashion collections.
  • Dedicated to mentoring students and preparing them for the fashion industry.
  • Specializes in developing strong fashion sketching portfolios with a focus on individual design identity.

Mariam Mithiborwala

Senior Professor

  • Mariam is a B.Com graduate and a former second-rank holder in Diploma in Dress Making and Design.
  • Brings over 20 years of industry experience.
  • Specializes in Pattern Making, Garment Construction, and Indian embroidery.
  • Strong understanding of traditional Indian handwork and craftsmanship.
  • Known for instilling discipline, precision, and high standards in students.

Vaswati Ganguli

Head of the Department of Interior

  • An Architect from Mumbai University with 30+ years of experience in architectural and interior project management.
  • Brings over 15 years of academic experience across national and international curricula.
  • Specializes in Space Design and Styling.
  • Experienced in curriculum development and academic program delivery.
  • Serves as a research mentor, jury member, examiner, and moderator for university boards.

Hemangini Bali

Senior Faculty Interior Design

  • She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Designing & History and is trained in technical drafting.
  • Brings over 20 years of professional experience.
  • Teaches Construction Studio, Design Studio, and History of Design & Architecture.
  • Focused on nurturing creativity and developing practical design skills in students.
  • Believes that while art reflects talent, design is a refined skill.

Mehmood Khan

Senior Faculty Interior Design

  • Mr Khan teaches Interior Design theory subjects, including Materials and Services, along with design subjects such as Furniture Design.
  • Founder of Verve Architects & Designers.
  • Serves as visiting faculty at L.S. Raheja College of Architecture, Rachana Sansad, and Saboo Siddiqui College of Architecture.

Kinnari Patel

Senior Faculty

  • A Master’s degree in Fashion Design and a Diploma in Apparel Manufacture and Fashion Coordination from SNDT University.
  • Brings over 15 years of teaching experience in fashion education.
  • Specializes in Pattern Making, Apparel Construction, Branding, Visual Merchandising, Retail Marketing, and Luxury Brand Management.
  • Passionate about traditional crafts and artisan techniques.
  • Guides students in developing their own labels and building successful careers in the fashion industry.

⁠Naina Kumar

Design Mentor and Textile Factory

  • A Textile Designer and graduate of Nottingham Trent University.
  • Brings over 13 years of experience as a designer, mentor, and faculty member.
  • Serves as Associate Editor at Face Magazine.
  • Advocates for slow fashion and sustainable design practices.
  • Committed to holistic education and delivering innovative, ethical design solutions.

⁠Deepit Chugh

Senior Design Faculty

  • A graduate of NIFT New Delhi (2011).
  • Has worked with leading organizations including Triburg, Raymond, Aditya Birla Group, and Pantaloons, designing for both menswear and womenswear.
  • Three-time finalist at the internationally acclaimed World of Wearable Art show; secured third place in the Film & Costume category (2014) for The Theomorphic King.
  • Winner of Lakmé Fashion Week GenNext Designer (2021).
  • Founder of the fashion label Line Outline.

Khushbu Nanavati

Senior Design Faculty

  • Khushbu Nanavati holds a B.Sc in Fashion and Textile Technology from Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, and an Advanced Diploma in Fashion and Textile Design from Samira Institute of Design and Textiles.
  • Brings over 15 years of industry experience and 12 years of teaching experience.
  • Works as a freelance Apparel and Accessory Designer.
  • Specializes in Illustration, Design Process, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and Accessory Design.
  • Focuses on enabling students to translate concepts into visual form through both hand and digital illustrations.
  • Believes in guiding students to discover their own creative perspective.

Sagar Kadrekar

Senior Faculty

  • Sagar Kadrekar is a fashion design educator at NIF Thane and a passionate content creator.
  • Actively associated with pageants and fashion shows as a show director and fashion choreographer.
  • Recipient of the Karmaveer Chakra Award; recognized among the Top 25 Content Creators in India by Godrej.
  • Showcased designs at New York Fashion Week (2018).
  • Hosts a fashion podcast available on Gaana and Spotify.
  • Featured for his androgynous style on Sonam Kapoor’s Instagram and as an actor on Pinkvilla.
  • Experienced in styling catalogue and calendar shoots, as well as short films featured at various film festivals.

⁠Srishti Shukla

Assistant faculty

  • Srishti Shukla is a Pattern Making faculty at NIF Thane and an alumna with a B.Sc. in Fashion Design.
  • Brings 3 years of industry experience across both sustainable and luxury fashion brands.
  • Has worked as a designer, gaining diverse exposure within the fashion industry.
  • Focuses on integrating sustainable practices with luxury design perspectives.
  • Committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of designers.

Ramesh Nanaware

Senior Illustration Faculty

  • A Bachelor of Fine Arts from J.J. School of Applied Arts.
  • Brings over 20 years of experience in fashion illustration.
  • Specializes in calligraphy, with strong expertise across oil painting and multiple art mediums.

⁠Kushang Kavi

Senior Faculty Graphics

  • Kushang Kavi is a faculty member in the Computers for Fashion & Interior Design department with over 20 years of experience.
  • Holds an Advanced Diploma in Graphic 2D, 3D, and VFX.
  • Specializes in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), guiding students in both creative and technical applications.
  • Former Faculty Graphic Head at St. Angelo’s Computer Pvt. Ltd.
  • Has worked as a Senior Animator with the Birla Group and Shloka InfoTech.

⁠Jaishika Ratanpal

Senior Faculty Textiles and Fabric Research

  • A B.Com degree and a Diploma in Textiles from VJTI.
  • Brings over 17 years of teaching experience.
  • Specializes in Textiles and Fabric Research, with a focus on weaving techniques.
  • Teaches History of World Costumes, History of Indian Costumes, and Indian Embroidery.
  • Expertise includes weaving, textile design, and tie-dye techniques.

Diana Pinheiro

Counsellor

  • Diana is an MBA postgraduate with 23+ years of experience in retail operations.
  • Experience includes working with international brands such as Marks & Spencer (Al Futtaim Ltd.), UAE.
  • Brings strong leadership and operational expertise to NIF Global.
  • Serves as Senior Academic and Admission Counsellor.
  • Committed to student guidance and academic support.

Alice Kakani

Marketing Manager

  • A Social Media Manager at NIF Thane and an alumna of the institute.
  • Brings 3 years of industry experience in digital and social media.
  • Combines creative and strategic approaches to drive audience engagement.
  • Focuses on building brand identity through current design trends and digital marketing strategies.
  • Ensures content optimization and brand consistency across platforms.

Krital

Social Media Manager

  • A Master’s in Fashion Promotion, Communication & Media from Istituto Marangoni, London, with a foundation in Business Management and a Bachelor’s in Fashion Design.
  • Social Media Manager at NIF Thane and an alumna, with 8+ years of experience in fashion and media.
  • Specializes in PR, Communications, Social Media Strategy, Copywriting, Digital Marketing & Creative Direction.
  • Combines creative vision with strategic execution to build strong brand identities, drive engagement, business development, and high-performing digital content.

Saiket Mondal

  • Seasoned fashion designer with 11+ years of experience in innovative menswear and womenswear, driving 20–40% annual sales growth for global luxury clients.
  • Holds a Bachelor of Fashion Design (NIFT Kolkata, 2015) and BA (North Bengal University, 2009), blending strong creative and technical foundations.
  • Progressed through key roles from Designer to Senior Design Manager across reputed brands, handling international markets like Dubai, Maldives, and Thailand.
  • Award-winning designer with recognitions like Boyanika 2014, Design Sutra 2015, and showcases at Dubai Expo and Riyadh Fashion Week.
  • Currently a Design Mentor at NIF Global, guiding emerging designers with a focus on creativity, trend alignment, and commercial success.

Pallavi Pai

Centre Manager (Thane)

  • A fashion educator, designer, and Centre Manager.
  • An IIJS award-winning designer with a background in Fashion Technology and Design Management.
  • Passionate about integrating luxury aesthetics with innovation and education.
  • Dedicated to mentoring and shaping the next generation of creative leaders.

Ar. Priyanka Deshmukh

  • An alumna of the Academy of Architecture, Rachna Sansad, Mumbai.
  • Brings 9+ years of industry experience and 12+ years in design education.
  • Experienced in large-scale architectural and interior projects across commercial and residential sectors.
  • Teaches Design at Mumbai University–affiliated colleges and serves as a jury member.
  • Draws creative inspiration from travel and nature, guided by a strong belief in discipline.

Vijaya D. Dufare

  • An Interior Designer and Vastu Consultant with over 20 years of professional experience.
  • Practicing interior design since 2003 and Vastu consultation since 2007, across residential and commercial projects.
  • Brings over 15 years of teaching experience in interior design.
  • Graduate from SNDT University with a G.D.I.D.D. (Graduate Diploma in Interior Design & Decoration).
  • Known for integrating design principles with Vastu to create functional and harmonious spaces.
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