Wajahat Rather, an Associate Professor of Fashion Design at Pearl Academy, brings over 15 years of experience in design academia to his role. He is a distinguished alumnus of the esteemed NID in Ahmedabad. Prior to joining Pearl Academy, Wajahat served as a faculty member at the NIIFT Mohali and played a key role as a founding faculty member at the Institute of Design at the State University of Performing & Visual Arts in Rohtak.
Wajahat's designs have gained recognition globally, with exhibitions at prestigious venues. Notably, his designs have graced the Gen-Next LAKME Fashion Week runways and FDCI First CUT, Delhi Fashion Week. He has also created logos and murals for various state governments.
Besides, Wajahat is a TEDx speaker on sustainability and design. He has been honoured with the Yuva Purskaar - Youth Icon award by Harmony India for his contributions to the arts and crafts of Kashmir. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Vogue India, The Indian Express, Elle India, and Deccan Chronicle.
Inspired by nature, Wajahat mentors students to think innovatively through his “3D” motto: Discover, Define, Develop. With energetic commitment, he empowers aspiring talents to embrace new perspectives on creativity and social consciousness.