The walls of a prison do not shut out creativity. And fashion goes beyond runways. In a novel initiative, women inmates of Tihar will now be acquainted with the art, aesthetics and science of fashion and taught the art of designing clothes.
Tihar Jail in association with Pearl Academy has launched a Fashion Lab in the central jail, where a group of women will undergo training in designing. These women will be helped to hone their skills as part of the rehabilitation programme.
“It’s a unique initiative which shows the commitment of Tihar Jail to promote skill development among inmates. It will help the women inmates learn life-sustaining skills and provide them great opportunities to earn a livelihood in their post-prison life,” shares Sudhir Yadav, director general (Prisons), Tihar Jail, adding, “The focus of this initiative is to contribute to the national growth. The inmates will get the opportunity to learn the basics of fashion design.”
The three-month programme will focus on stitching, cutting and measuring, explains Professor Nandita Abraham. CEO, Pearl Academy. “For the past 23 years, we have been transforming the lives of youngsters. This is the first time we are doing a project with Tihar Jail and this project aims at giving livelihood to the inmates,” she says.
The Fashion Lab is equipped with specialised sewing machines, sewing kits and ironing machines, giving the trainees their first real experience of designing a dress from scratch. “Most of the inmates who are enrolled in this programme are about to complete their sentences in the coming six to ten months. We have designed the curriculum keeping this in mind and to provide a unique opportunity to the women prisoners to build a holistic and independent life after prison. They will have face-to-face training classes along with time to practice in the lab,” avers Nandita.
Designer Rina Dhaka and Nandita Abraham, CEO, Pearl Academy, with an inmate at the Fashion Lab in Tihar.
Equipped with pattern-making tools and sewing kits, the Lab aims to help the inmates hone their interest and skills. Sudhir shares, “Such opportunities will give these inmates a hope for a better future. One must understand that many of them who are serving jail terms are not psychopaths or sociopaths, but under certain circumstances have committed a crime. Given a chance they would like to lead a peaceful life like all of us. And we should help them lead that life.”
A fashion show and cultural program by Pearl Academy students and women inmates followed the inauguration ceremony.
