Objection 1: 'Fashion has no job security'
Many parents associate fashion design with boutique tailor shops. Highlight the size of the Indian Apparel Export and Retail sectors.
The Counter-Argument:
India is the world's second-largest textile exporter. NIFT is an institute set up under the Act of Parliament (Ministry of Textiles). Brand groups like Reliance Retail, Aditya Birla Fashion, Landmark, and Shahi Exports operate multi-billion dollar retail logistics chains that depend on NIFT graduates to manage merchandising, purchasing, and production.
Objection 2: 'Is the pay too low?'
Parents worry starting packages are too low to sustain metro city living.
| Role at Brand / Export House | Starting Salary Range | Mid-Career Salary (5 Yrs Exp) |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion Merchandiser / Buyer | ₹4.5L - ₹7.0L/yr | ₹9.0L - ₹15.0L/yr |
| Apparel Production Manager | ₹4.0L - ₹6.5L/yr | ₹8.0L - ₹12.0L/yr |
| Visual Merchandiser / Retail Planner | ₹3.5L - ₹5.5L/yr | ₹7.5L - ₹11.5L/yr |
Frame it as Retail Management
Talking about career longevity
Objection-handling tip: Frame your course selection (especially B.FTech or Fashion Management/Merchandising) as a Retail Operations & Logistics degree. Explain that you will be managing material flow, vendor negotiation, and purchase planning.
If you study at a premier campus (NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru), campus placements are highly institutionalized, offering security and a clear corporate growth trajectory.