Strange as it may sound, nearly 25 years ago, when fashion designer Raghavendra Rathore, who belongs to the royal family of Jodhpur, was studying fashion in New York, he struggled to fund the course after the first semester (the first semester was financed by his parents).
“So, I did four temporary jobs like sketching for export houses, designing collections for companies and painting old houses to collect the fee. But it was such an expensive course that even that was not enough,” recollects Rathore.
Fortunately, a “very generous individual” helped him out and the gesture inspired him so deeply that 25 years later, Rathore is all set to come up with a world-class fashion designing institute named Gurukul School of Design “to help create opportunities for young students in my lifetime”.
Located in Jaipur, the institute will be launched next year and the first batch will have about 60 students.
“I strongly believe education is the greatest gift to impart. It was my calling for a very long time and the industry too demands brilliant designers as society evolves.”
The most important aspect of the Gurukul school of design is that it will serve as a hub, a meeting place for like-minded people—students and faculty alike. The curriculum is custom-made, keeping in mind the perils an enterprising designer faces in India. “It is not a copy paste course from a foreign university.”
“Life hacks that one needs in today's world are combined to create interesting modules that will train the mind and skills that are needed for tomorrow,” he adds. Technology will play a very important part in how knowledge is imparted in the institute. The faculty is being selected from across the globe with skill sets that are unique and compatible with the concept of the Gurukul.
As far as creating the curriculum is concerned, “the design team, knowledgeable partners and I have been instrumental in doing so,” he said.
Ask him whether he is starting the venture in partnership and he says as of now he is spearheading the project but will invite other partners in the future. “The initial stage of putting everything together has been an enthusiastic challenge, what life is meant to be,” he said, adding that going forward, many like-minded partners will be invited to join the crusade to inculcate new values in our social fiber through good design.”
Rathore refuses to divulge specific investment details, but says the project is investment-heavy as it involves real estate purchase and construction of the design school besides the infrastructure and running cost. “Like any start-up the break-even depends on its success.”
“Intuitive, positive talent coming out from the design school will benefit the entire industry as a whole,” he says.
“But there are challenges that need to be thought through every day, corrections are implemented immediately, and most importantly a good board of the advisory members will give it the right direction,” concludes the designer.
