Mumbai, Apr 21: Usha International, one of India’s leading consumer durables companies, has once again collaborated with Pearl Academy, India’s leading creative design education institution established in 1993, for Portfolio 2026, the institute’s much-anticipated graduation showcase hosted across its campuses in Jaipur, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Reiterating its commitment to creativity and self-expression, Usha introduced a dynamic live sewing demo-cum-experiential zone at the venue, open to all attendees.
Hosted at its Marol campus, the annual flagship event brought together leading brands, industry professionals, and graduating students across Product, Communication Design, Business, Fashion Design, Fashion Styling, Fashion Communication, Interiors, and Textile Design – emerging not just as a showcase, but as a live interface between industry demand and future-ready talent, with spot hiring opportunities and direct portfolio engagement. Notable attendees included Rajesh Kumar, Creative Director at Pepe Jeans; Abdon Lepcha, Creative Director at FILA; Vinay Rahure, Creative Director at Bombay Shirt Company; Zahir Mirza, Founder of Boatcast and Siddhi Mehta, Art Director at Condé Nast India, among others across fashion, media, retail, and brand ecosystems.
Built around the theme “Every floor has a story to tell,” the campus transformed into a dynamic, multi-floor experiential space, each dedicated to a distinct creative discipline, offering a first-hand view of the breadth and depth of talent emerging from Pearl Academy and Pearl School of Business Mumbai. The Ground Floor featured Objects & Instinct, showcasing work from Product Design and Fashion Styling. Level One, Space & Strategy, brought together the Interior Design and School of Business cohorts. Level Two, Design That Speaks, was dedicated to Communication Design. Level Three, The Collection, presented Fashion Design, while Level Four, What Fashion Says, highlighted Fashion Communication. The evening culminated on Level Seven with The Showcase, the highly anticipated Fashion Show.
Usha’s live sewing demonstration zone emerged as a key attraction for students and fashion enthusiasts alike. Visitors had the opportunity to create mini-DIY projects on Usha sewing machines, encouraging hands-on participation and allowing them to experience the joy of creating through sewing.
Speaking about the occasion Seema Mahajan, President, Studio of Fashion & Craft, Usha International, said, “We are proud to continue our partnership with Pearl Academy and further strengthen a collaboration that celebrates creativity, skill-building, and innovation. Initiatives like these are key to shaping the future of the fashion industry by empowering young talent with the right platform, mentorship, and exposure. Sewing has always been at the heart of Usha’s legacy, and through this association, we remain committed to advancing learning, encouraging self-expression, and supporting the next generation of designers as they bring their ideas to life.”
What stood out was the clear shift from portfolio presentation to problem-solving and market relevance. The Mumbai Pearl School of Business cohort further highlighted this convergence, presenting consumer-focused strategies, retail insights, and brand solutions, underscoring how business education is becoming deeply embedded within the creative economy.
Commenting on the event, Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy, said, “Portfolio ’26 is more than a showcase; it is the most defining moment of a student’s journey with us. It is where years of learning, unlearning, and creative courage come together in one powerful expression. What excites me most is the quality of professionals we see walking out of these halls, designers who can lead boardroom conversations, business thinkers who understand craft, and innovators who are equally at home in a studio and a global marketplace. At Pearl Academy, nurturing complete professionals isn’t an aspiration; it’s our promise.”
Amod Vijayvargiya, Director, Pearl Academy School of Business, added, “At Portfolio ’26, our students demonstrated what it means to operate at the intersection of business and creativity. They presented market-driven strategies, consumer insights, and brand solutions directly to industry, engaging in real conversations around feasibility and growth. At Pearl School of Business, we focus on building this applied understanding—where students don’t just learn business but learn how to apply it within the creative economy, supported by strong industry exposure and opportunities to engage with real brands.”
As industries rapidly evolve in the age of artificial intelligence, Portfolio ’26 reinforced Pearl Academy’s focus on nurturing complete professionals, individuals who seamlessly blend creativity, business acumen, and technological fluency. Reflecting this shift, several projects across Communication Design and Fashion Styling integrated AI-led tools and processes, with select portfolios exploring the emerging intersection of design and intelligent systems. With Usha’s presence at Portfolio 2026, the company continues to encourage young creators to stitch their own stories and embrace the craft with imagination and purpose.
