Volkswagen India collaborates with NIFT to design uniform for sales and service team

Volkswagen India has collaborated with National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to design the uniform of the sales and service team comprising of 10,000 employees. The competition focuses on the brand’s mission to deliver the strongest customer connection as the sales and service teams are the primary point of contact for any customer visiting the Volkswagen network.  

As part of the ‘Dress up VW challenge’, the Fashion Design batch of 2020 had to submit  attire design for four categories, both male and female (Hostess, Sales Consultant/ Service Advisors, Sales/Service Manager and Specialist). The design needed to resonate with Volkswagen’s brand values along with being visually appealing, comfortable and convenient for employees  to wear and carry.

The entries were submitted in the form of hand illustrated designs or digital copies and 10 entries were shortlisted. A seven-member  jury announced the top six finalists who have been chosen  to create and present a prototype of their design for male and female version of Sales  Consultant and Service Advisor; and only wear-on for Sales/Service Manager. The finalists will be given two weeks to manufacture the prototypes. 

Commenting on this initiative, Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India said, “Our goal is to make Volkswagen more approachable and vibrant, and through this unique collaboration, we get to witness the creativity and innovation of the  young talents across NIFT in the country. We congratulate the top 6 finalists and look forward to their reinventing designs that resonate with our new brand philosophy and customer experience.” 

Shantmanu, IAS, Director General – NIFT added, “We're extremely delighted to collaborate with Volkswagen through the 'Dress up VW challenge' that provides our students an opportunity to solve real-world design challenges. Our students can apply their learnings to develop purposeful design that understands and integrates the brand philosophy with the target audience.”

Prof. Dr. Vandana Narang, Dean – Academics, NIFT said, “Design plays an integral role for any business as it’s a representation of a brand’s ethos and personality. With Volkswagen India 360 degree rebranding exercise, we are extremely delighted to associate with them through the dress code network challenge. Our students are happy to participate in this unique opportunity that enables them to represent Volkswagen’s new brand design language of being more modern, human, flexible, colorful through their designs. Our students would work closely to understand Volkswagen’s target audience that would provide them the relevant insights while designing the network dress code.”  

The final round will be conducted on October 20 in Mumbai, where the winner will be awarded a prize money of Rs 50,000; the runner-up will get Rs 30,000 and the second runner-up will receive Rs 10,000.