B.Des. in

Prasanna Baruah is passionate about lifelong learning, pushing the boundaries of knowledge. With two Master degrees under his belt (MA in Fashion and Textile from Nottingham Trent University, UK and MA in Education from IGNOU), He has a burning desire to delve even deeper into his field, and currently on an exciting journey of pursuing Ph.D. He has completed Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) with an award of being a topper in the batch. He has more than 25 years of experience of nurturing young creative talents by helping them to grow as next generation of creative leaders and thinkers. With relevant industry exposure, opportunities for multi-disciplinary as well as cross-cultural learning, collaborative projects, he ensures that students get the space for individual growth and gradually to become industry ready.

He started his career with mass-manufacturing apparel industry and also worked as a Fashion illustrator with renowned fashion designers and apparel brands. He is an expert academician helping every student’s distinctive voice, teaching them how to challenge, collaborate and define the future of Fashion. He teaches design in combination of heritage and radical thinking and blurring the beauty of craftsmanship with ever-emerging technology.

Beyond his academic pursuits, he finds solace and inspiration in the world of music. Playing musical instruments has been a cherished part of his life. Whether it’s the soothing notes of a piano, or the soulful strumming of an electric mandolin, he immerses himself in the world of music to unwind and express his creativity. He is not only passionate about research but also about connecting with scholars, researchers, and music enthusiasts. He is open to new connections and collaborations.

Fibin V Raj is associated with Pearl Academy since 2005 and is currently Associate Professor and Department Leader, South Zone. Fibin has held academic posts at NIFT in the past. He worked as programmer coordinator and course leader for fashion design courses and choreographed fashion shows at NIFT Graduation Collections. Fibin has extensive styling and design experience with leading fashion photographer G. Venket Ram and has covered celebrity features in fashion magazines and calendars.

Fibin V Raj has numerous prestigious awards to his credit including Most Creative and Innovative Designer Award by NIFT in 2005, the Most Stylish Stylist Award by Globus Style Awards in 2012, Most Outstanding Performer Award by Pearl Academy in 2013, Gen Next Inspirational Stylist Award in 2014, Vodafone Red Fashion Icon Award by Vodafone 2015, Super Star Stylist Award 2016 by Cinema Spice Chennai and more. He was featured as a “Stylish Fashion Educationist” and has been a jury member at events such as "Mix Media Art" competition at IFFTI (International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes) 2021, amongst others.

His students have achieved significant positions in the fashion industry in India and internationally, reflecting his effectiveness as an educator and mentor in the fashion industry.

With over 25 years of fashion industry experience, Devika Sharma Pathak brings a wealth of real-world expertise to her role as a Professor and Department leader at Pearl Academy. After earning her degree from NIFT Delhi, Devika headed to the UK to obtain her Master’s in Fashion and Technology from Nottingham Trent University. Devika is passionate about guiding the next generation of fashion talent. She has mentored students at prestigious institutes, including NIFT Delhi, NIFT Mumbai, and Amity University. Now at Pearl Academy, Devika excels at bringing textbook concepts to life with her industry knowledge.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Devika has spent the past 14 years building her own boutique businesses selling original designs in India and internationally in Dubai and London. She has partnered with leading brands and design houses like Suneet Varma, Fabindia, Reebok, and DC Handlooms. Her designs have been sold globally in boutiques across India, Dubai, London, and beyond. With decades of hands-on experience, Devika has cultivated broad interests across fashion illustration, design processes, trend analysis, retail markets, and garment construction and costume design.

Devika aims to equip graduates with the skills to innovate and lead in the fashion industry.

Ashish Dhaka is an academician at the core who is actively involved in curriculum development at Pearl Academy. He is a Pearl Academy alumni who pursued a BA (Hons) degree from Pearl Academy before completing his Master's degree from the University of the Creative Arts, United Kingdom. Ashish’s graduating collection was awarded the ‘Best Use of Traditional Skills’ award and was conferred as the ‘Best Academic Performer’.

Ashish showcased at Mercedes Benz Berlin Fashion Week and London Design Week. He was amongst those from India to present his garments at the World of Wearable Art Awards, in New Zealand. He has presented his research work at various conferences, seminars and summits.

His areas of interest are documentation of traditional Indian costumes and indigenous sustainable practices, along with innovation in the design process and three-dimensional prototyping. He utilises his interests to provide insights to his students.