Sanya Donald Prakash
Assistant Professor
sanya.donald@mahindrauniversity.edu.in
Sanya Donald is an interdisciplinary designer and educator with deep-rooted expertise in fashion innovation, textiles, and design education. Her professional journey spans India’s functional apparel and technical textile industries to the refined realms of couture and bridal wear in Germany—forming a design continuum that bridges cultural insight with global sensibility.
She holds a master’s in design from the National Institute of Design (NID) and is a graduate of the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), bringing academic excellence and industry relevance into every learning environment.
With a passion for reimagining the role of fashion in contemporary society, Sanya empowers the next generation of designers to think critically, create consciously, and innovate with purpose. Sanya focuses on developing future-ready design curricula, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue, and guiding young designers to think beyond aesthetics toward impact and intent.
She brings a unique perspective to design education, rooted in her industry experience designing functional apparel and healthcare products at Vissco. Her work focuses on how thoughtful design can improve comfort, mobility, and dignity—especially in health and wellbeing contexts. As part of a research collaboration with IIT Delhi, she worked on the development of assistive wearables for autistic children, deepening her engagement with user-centered and inclusive design.
Her professional journey also includes hands-on experience in bespoke fashion studios in Germany, where she worked closely with master craftsmen to understand the precision, detail, and emotional value embedded in couture and bridal wear. This exposure deepened her appreciation for slow fashion, craftsmanship, and the intimate relationship between maker, material, and wearer. Sanya is committed to shaping responsive, future-oriented design curricula, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentoring emerging designers to create empathy, innovation, and social impact.
M.Des
- M.Des in Apparel Design from National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar (2011-2016)
B.Des
- B.Des in Leather Design from National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi (2016-2020)
Experience
- Product Specialist at Fein Genaeht, Berlin, Germany: Optimized garment fit through creative sewing and workmanship, while gaining insights into German design methodologies.
- Product Manager at Vissco Healthcare, Mumbai, India: Led new product development for healthcare aids and sports wearables.
- Product Manager at Afferent Wearables, Pune, India: Managed the development and launch of tech-integrated outerwear, like self-heating jackets.
- Product Manager at Trucarekidz , Delhi, India: Managed the end-to-end product development and design for a range of baby soft lines, toys for the brand Nuluv and introduced the orthopedic product range ActiFit.
- Design Researcher at Textile Technology Department, IIT-Delhi: Led a research-oriented project that aimed to create wearable technology products for children with Autism between the ages of 5 and 12 years old.
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