Jamshedpur, Feb. 28: If the IT sector is head hunting from the steel city, can the fashion industry be far behind?

After setting up shop here, international brands are for the first time choosing designers from the city’s fashion institutes.

Come March, students from International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), Jamshedpur, would appear for placement interviews for leading global brands including Tommy Hilfiger, United Colors of Benetton and Esprit.

“It is indeed a great achievement for Jamshedpur-based institutes to send their students for campus interviews conducted by leading fashion giants,” said Neetu Manikatalia, the centre director of INIFD, Jamshedpur.

The move comes in the wake of the institute’s tie-up with Istituto di Moda Burgo, Milan, an international fashion school of Italy, in 2007.

“As part of this tie-up, INIFD will send students for the final placements conducted by these brands. This year, Jamshedpur students would vie for a foothold in the international brands along with their counterparts from other cities,” added Manikatalia.

Apart from garment brands, leading export house Madura Garments would be picking up students from the steel city. Madura Garments flaunts brands like Allen Solly and Van Heusen.

Once chosen, the students would be engaged in various jobs such as designing, production management and sample co-ordination.

They would also get to work with international designers. But attaining such dreams would not be easy for students as INIFD is set to conduct several grooming sessions with them before shortlisting students for the final interview.

Tomorrow, Delhi-based grooming guru Meher Uddin will come down to Jamshedpur to conduct a special makeover session for two days.

“Jamshedpur students have talent. But the X-factor is missing. So, we have decided to groom them completely before they sit for interviews with renowned names,” added Manikatalia.

A seminar for students will provide tips on writing resumes and attending interviews.

On Match 1, Shilpa Arora, DGM, HR, of INIFD would also come down from Chandigarh to conduct the first round of interviews.

Those shortlisted can make it to the final placement sessions.

Students have to present samples of their designs for selection at the interview stage.