Does it help in MFM if you are a Textile or Fashion Graduate

This is a question asked by one of the readers:

Hi Priyank ! I have got a call for Group Discussion and Personnel Interview for Masters in Fashion Management( MFM)  at NIFT.I am doing graduation in Agriculture and so I am quite worried as this could prove to be a drawback in my selection. Please help. 


Here is one more question:


Hi ! I am a graduate in English literature. Would it be relevent subject to me to answer in Interview session to secure a seat in NIFT or they require any technical or experience background to become a part of their management program?

It helps to have a background in Fashion or Textiles if you are venturing into the realm of MFM.This sounds logical but looking at business of Fashion in totality, this statement loses ground.

It hinders. Because it blocks one's mind that MFM is only about Textiles or Fashion, so having a  product oriented attitude will lead to an air of arrogance or at best what Theodore Levitt has called as "Marketing Myopia".

MFM is all about Business of Fashion. Product is only a part of the Business. The product has certain characteristics, but those characteristics can be learnt while you are an MFM student and at job and for that a background in Fashion or Textiles is not needed, as per me. 

There are a lot of people who do not agree with me. But when I take a look around and see my seniors and persons occupying the position of country heads, almost all of them are of non-textile-fashion background. 

If you are new to the field, you can understand the big picture better than a textile engineer or a textile designer. It is obvious, because it helps if you are an outsider and all the functions e.g. product, markets, human-resource and finance have an equal importance. And yes, you lack that air of superiority that comes naturally in the people having product or process knowledge.

In fact, fashion is an image based product determined by the customer. Product knowledge helps, but only to the extent that it should be dropped in the background as soon as possible and broader concept needs to be grasped. 

The people in the selection process understand that and that is why there is no such criteria that only people from Textile or Fashion field can apply in MFM.

I have seen people coming from as diverse backgrounds as Biology to study for MFM and doing successfully in the industry.

I hope this helps in answering your query.