Weaving knowledge, Dyeing skills: Bridging Theory with Practical
Axis Institute of Fashion Technology (AIFT) organized an educational visit to Uttar Pradesh Textile Technology Institute (UPTTI), Kanpur, on Monday, 20th April 2026. The visit was aimed at providing students with firsthand exposure to advanced textile processing, testing, and production techniques that form the backbone of the textile and apparel industry.
Diploma in Textile Design (TD) and Bachelors of Fashion and Apparel Design (BFAD) Students, accompanied by Ms. Pooja Vishwakarma (faculty, AIFT), departed from the Axis College campus to UPTTI, established in 1914, is one of India’s premier textile institutes and houses state-of-the-art laboratories and pilot plants that cater to both academic research and industrial requirements.
Uttar Pradesh Textile Technology Institute (UPTTI), formerly Government Central Textile Institute (GCTI), is a state government founded Textile Engineering college in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the oldest and premier textile Institute of North India, established in 1914.
The visit commenced with the Testing Laboratory, where students observed key quality control procedures. Demonstrations included fiber identification, yarn count testing, fabric tensile strength, GSM measurement, and color fastness tests. Dr. Subhankar Maity (Assistant Professor) Faculty at UPTTI explained the importance of BIS and ASTM standards in ensuring product quality for domestic and export markets. Students understood how theoretical concepts of fabric properties are validated through scientific testing.
In the Weaving Laboratory, students witnessed various types of looms, from traditional handlooms to modern rapier and air-jet looms. The working of dobby and jacquard mechanisms was explained in detail. This session helped students connect their classroom learning of weave structures with real-time fabric production, design possibilities, and production speeds. The final segment covered the Dyeing and Processing Laboratory.
Students observed lab-scale dyeing machines, padding mangles, and curing chambers. The step-by-step process of pretreatment, dyeing, printing, and finishing was demonstrated. Special emphasis was given to sustainable practices such as ETP processes and waterless dyeing technologies being adopted by the industry.
The visit concluded with an interactive session where Dr. G. Nalankilli, (Director, UPTTI Kanpur) addressed student queries related to career prospects, research areas, and emerging technologies in textiles. This educational visit proved to be highly enriching, enabling students to correlate academic knowledge with industrial practices. Such initiatives by Axis College continue to strengthen industry-academia linkages and prepare students for professional challenges in the textile and fashion sector.