Name:

Nationality: Indian
Student number:
Course:
College: George Brown College
Intake: September 2022

The Visa Officer

High Commission of Canada

Subject: Request for a grant of Visa for higher studies

Respected Sir/Madam,
Being blessed with a creative flair, I was always inclined towards domains laden with creativity.
Since the reminiscences from my childhood, I can easily see myself having the colorful dreams
of creating, changing, and developing new ideas with colors and forms. The dreams of fairies
and charms of a sunny childhood instilled in me the wish to create something of my own and the
need to introduce myself to the world as something in which my inerasable signature lies created
sparks inside me. That is when I decided my area should be design, and there on, my immense
interest in footwear design made me pursue it as a career. Through these insights, I was able to
develop acumen about designing being a realm that spans beyond aesthetics. Having worked in
this industry, I have realized that there are still several aspects of design that I need to get
acquainted with, which will teach me the intricacies related to the managerial aspects of
designing. The knowledge of these aspects can only be gained through a specialized program
that will fulfill my dream of being one of the renowned designers of tomorrow. Thus, I decided
to opt for the Design Management program offered at George Brown College, Canada.
About myself:
I am an energetic, joyful, and diligent person who aspires to build a thriving career in the vast
sector of design. I am from Uttarakhand, India. We are a tight-knit family of four. My father, Mr.
Mahesh Pandey, is an established businessman. My mother, Mrs. Rashmi Pandey, is an LT
government teacher, and my younger brother, Mr. Tanmay Pandey, is a student in class 12.
Growing up, my brother and I were always taught to value knowledge and lead a purposeful life.
My parents have devotedly instilled in us the virtues like compassion, mutual respect, and an
openness to consider differences of opinion. Such a wholesome upbringing has pushed me to
always put in my best efforts and strive for continuous learning.

Academic Accomplishments
Considering my academics, I completed my Xth standard from Aryaman Vikram Birla,
Haldwani, with a CGPA in 2012 and XIIth standard from Beersheba Senior Secondary School
Haldwani with a CGPA in 2014, both affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education.
Due to my interest in learning about the design industry and particularly about the footwear
sector, I pursued graduation in a B.DES Bachelor of Design in Leather from the National
Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai. I completed my graduation in 2018 with a CGPA.
Here I studied footwear and accessories as my major during under graduation. My under
graduation acquainted me with the design world and taught me about all the theoretical aspects.
I learned about the design process and how we can make them consumer-friendly. Besides, I
also gained acquaintance with certain cognitive processes, visualization, and how they impact
the development of design concepts. With such theoretical insights, I was keen on applying the
knowledge gained in a real-world scenario.

Academic Projects

To enhance my practical skills, I did a few projects during my graduation. It included a project
on “Craft Study and Documentation” Mojari (May 2016-June 2016). This project was
initiated by the Ministry of Textile Govt. of India, in which we studied the craft cluster "Mojari"
practised in Jaipur (Rajasthan). We studied the culture and lifestyle and helped them with our
Design Interventions. The documentation was also done and submitted to the Govt. of India. I
also did a project on "Palm Leaf Craft” (Aug 2017-Dec 2017). The Ministry of Textile Govt
of India initiated this project in which we studied the craft cluster "Palm Leaf" practised in
Vellore (Tamil Nadu). We studied the culture and lifestyle, helped them with our Design
Interventions (combination of Palm Leaf with leather), and submitted the documentation to the
Govt. of India. These projects intrigued me to gain in-depth knowledge of the vast domain of
design.

English Language Proficiency

Owing to my ardent desire to study in Canada, I took an IELTS exam. My overall score was. The
breakdown is as follows:

Listening –, Speaking –, Writing –, Reading -

Professional Experience

I also did a few internships during graduation, including working as Industry Intern at Tata
Internationals, Dewas (M.P.) Jun 2016. I did this two-week internship in the Leather Tannery
Division, where I learned about the process of making leather. I have also worked with K.H.
Exports Pvt. Ltd. Chennai at two intervals, including May 2017-Aug 2017 as a Design
Intern and Jan 2018 till May 2018 as a Footwear Design Intern. During these projects, I was
selected as Design Intern in the footwear division, where I developed leather swatches with
different surface development concepts. Also, I focused on different production processes of
division and designed collections for the company. I've worked on four collections of my own.
After graduation, I started my professional journey to gain practical insights into my preferred
area. Having acquired designation starting from Footwear Designer at Grand Step Hk Pvt.
Ltd., China (Nov 2018 to Feb 2020), I joined Grandstep HK’s sister company (Volar Fashions,
Mumbai) for my Probation period of two months, where I coordinated with China operations
and design team. Alongside I was working for the e-commerce brands owned by a company
named London Rag and Rag & Co. Post my probation period, I joined the China Design team
working closely with the China Operations Manager and Director of the company. Initially, I
handled all the kids' categories for Inhouse designs and design for Clienteles TAO Kids,
Primark, etc. Alongside I was always a part of buyers meeting with our clientele to suggest the
design-related changes/ restrictions based on my market and trend research. After a month, I
was also given the Women's and Men's categories to handle (with my team of three members)
clientele River Island, Primark, Target USA, etc. Trips to one of the biggest markets for
materials and trims were wholesome and provided me with a brief international exposure.
Alongside my work, I was also learning Rhino 3D software sponsored by my company as we
planned to work on the 3D setup installed in the near future. Unfortunately, my term with
GrandStep Hk ended because of the rising cases of covid and travel restrictions/ bans. However,
I'm grateful for such an enriching experience as well as the learnings I got from this job
opportunity. During covid, I started working as Footwear Designer (Freelance) at
CARMICCI World by Paragon Group of Industries June 2020-Nov 2020, where I worked
on Casual Footwear range for Men's and Women's Category for Domestic market. After that, I
worked as a Footwear Designer (Freelance) at SANT Shoes Pvt. Ltd. (June 2020-May 2021),
where I worked on Kids Footwear Collection for European and UK Brands for two seasons
(Spring-Summer and Autumn-Winter). During the start of 2021, when Covid cases started
going down I decided to look for full time opportunities and I started working at Pastels and
Pop as Senior Footwear Designer (March 2021- Aug 2021). At pastels and pop, few of my
duties were working with a start-up brand focusing on the embroidery and embellishments on
footwear for Domestic Women's Category, along with handling social media campaigns with
the founders. My next stint was as a Footwear Design Consultant at AMSTER FOOTWEAR
(Sep 2021). This tenure provided me with an opportunity to consult on Market Research
(Advice on trends, retail placement), Design Development (Working on collection as per the
brand requirement), Creative Direction (For accessory brand), Product Development Material
Selection, check on the samples and fit), social media (Working along with the hired marketing
agencies during product launch and campaign).

Moving further, since Oct 2021, I have been working as a Senior Footwear Designer at A.H.
Group of Industries. Here I am handling Domestic & International retail brands (Footwear &
Accessories) of the brand-named Moral Code (USA & Japan), Milwaukee (USA), and Language
(India & Dubai). I have a team of three product designers and two communication designers
where I provide them guidance to work and monitor their work. I am also handling social media
for language (India & Dubai) along with a digital marketing agency working with us. The
enriching exposure gained through these stints will serve as a foundation for my future
coursework. Now, I am zealous to learn about the managerial knowledge and skills required to
build your venture in the design industry.

Co-Curricular & Extra-Curricular Activities

To polish my skills, I did a few certification courses from time to time. It included GARDA 2020
(GrandStep Hk). During this project, I designed the Men's and Kids' Footwear Sustainable PU
Material Collection to be presented at Italy's Expo Riva Schuh GARDA 2020. I also participated
in the Pensole Sneaker Championship in 2017, organized by Pensole Academy, the USA, for
budding designers. I also participated in Ability Foundation Competition 2017, a competition to
encourage young designers to work with specially-abled people. Here we designed two footwear
pieces at a cost price of 1 for our client suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Moreover, I have also
been an active participant in extra-curricular activities. I participated in the dance competition, a
college inter-department competition at NIFT Chennai (2017). I choreographed a group dance
for the leather design department. In the kho-kho competition organized at NIFT Chennai, I got
selected for NIFT Converge (Inter NIFT Campus Competition). At the Fashion Show in 2017, I
created a collection for the leather design department along with my 5- 7 classmates for the
Fashion Show in College fest Spectrum. These activities have helped me enhance my leadership,
critical thinking, and analytic thinking skills, which will assist me in my future endeavors.

Why Design Management?

After gaining substantial practical experience while working in various design houses and with
the top managers of the firms, I believe that there is a lot more to learn about the vast domain of
design management. Having a vision of setting up my own footwear design business will not
only require an understanding of the footwear industry, but I should also have intensive
knowledge about management practices and their applications. Thus, consulting the same with
expert career counselors suggested that I pursue a specialized program that will equip me with
ongoing trends in the design management domain. Thus, I decided to pursue a Design
Management program offered by George Brown University, Canada. The course would help
me get comprehensive knowledge of design management practice throughout the global design
industry. This course lays a strong foundation for internationalization, and it would help me work
in the global competitive design market. The course's curriculum is designed so that it provides
independent action-based learning that can help me develop my own new design-based business
start-up.

The group-based learning would help me to adopt the role of the company's director and will
help me to work towards the development of appropriate business proposals, which would render
me to involve myself in a cohesive business plan and would further help me to put theory into
the practice by making me an industry specialist. Here, coming across modules such as Design
Strategy, Managing Design Projects, Design Business Communications, Design Team
Leadership, Case Studies and Applications, etc. will introduce me to current design trends at
the global level, and also it would help me to get myself acquainted with the complexities
regarding the modern-day fashion and design industry and its global supply chain. Meanwhile, I
would be able to examine how to design products that are designed, sourced, developed,
merchandised, bought, manufactured, marketed, promoted, and retailed by considering many
international perspectives. I am confident that the knowledge I will gain at this prestigious
college will be a milestone in my career advancement in this field.

Why George Brown College?

My decision to study overseas was made after contemplating varied points. On searching for a
design management program, I found few options available for this specialized program in India.
The available programs majorly focus on the design part, not on the managerial aspects of
learning. Thus, searching for a program designed to provide a vast understanding and skills of
design management made me choose this program at George Brown College. I believe that my
goal of setting my footwear design brand will require a lot of practical insights and managerial
skills. I will gain it through innovative teaching-learning methodologies such as seminars,
workshops, case studies, and project work offered in the Design Management program at George
Brown College. These reasons shifted my focus to pursue a program internationally that would
cater to my needs and help me be at par with my peers. George Brown College is ranked among
the top research colleges in Canada by the Research Infosource annual rankings. It is ranked
80th in Canada by Webometrics Ranking. Webometrics has also awarded George Brown
College a continental ranking of #1127. Furthermore, I am looking forward to meeting people of
different cultures and backgrounds to learn something from them, which will help increase my
creativity and give me personal and professional growth.

Why Canada?
The primary reason for choosing Canada is to gain international exposure, knowledge, and
education to upgrade my skills and use those skills in my own country, India. Canada is
frequently rated as one of the greatest countries in the world, and it is now the top country in
terms of quality of life. Studying in Canada will give me a globally recognized education from
some of the world's best instructors and academics. In all major educational sectors, Canada is
one of the top countries in the world for providing world-class instruction. For the third year in a
row, Canada has been named the country with the finest reputation in the world. In addition to
taking home the overall title, Canada claimed the number one spot in categories ranging from
"best place to live" to "best place to study" while also ranking high for working, visiting, and
investing. Canadian institutions are widely known for imparting knowledge and skills through
well-designed programs providing understanding and abilities of the current scenarios of the
industries. Hence, considering the factors mentioned above, Canada would be the aptest country
to pursue my further studies and prepare me to have a long-lasting career as an expert
professional and entrepreneur in the Indian fashion and design industry.

Financials and funding:

I want to highlight that my family is financially well established in our home country. With my
parents' help, I will sponsor my studies. My father's annual income is CAD and my mother's
annual income is CAD. Additionally, we are showing CAD funds in the bank, the investments of
CAD, and a property valuation of CAD. I have already paid my One-sem tuition fee, i.e., CAD,
and living expenses, i.e., CAD, have already been paid. With the above-mentioned financial
abilities, I am sure my family can easily support all the expenses associated with my studies,
including miscellaneous expenses.

Study Motive, Opportunities, and Future prospects:

As per the recent reports, the Indian design industry is estimated to be about 108 billion dollars
and is considered to witness a remarkable growth by the end of 2022, which would sum up to
about 223 billion dollars. This approves the capability of this industry as it will, in general, set
out plentiful worthwhile occupations that open doors for adept experts in the fashion and design
field. In addition, as India is moving quickly on the way to advancement, this is a promising
stage for setting up startups in the country. As I intend to establish a footwear design brand of
my own, I feel that my country, India, is the ideal destination for setting up my venture as it
supports startups with various missions such as Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Therefore, with
such ample opportunities available in my own country, I intend to return to my country, India,
after completing my program.

Upon my return, I would initially like to work with renowned brands such as Puma, Reebok,
Nike, Fila, etc., where I will wish to work as a Strategic Manager-Designing and Crafting,
where I will implement the knowledge gained at this program in performing best to my abilities.
However, after gaining substantial experience, I strive to implement my gained experience into
settling up my footwear business venture, which is my ultimate goal. I am of the opinion that
with a globally recognized degree, I would be able to perform to the best of my capabilities, and
through innovative ideas and strategies, I would surely be able to create a distinct identity of my
own.

Strong Family Ties in India

My entire family is well-established in India. I share an immensely tender bond with them. I duly
feel the need to reunite with my family and loved ones. I desire to cater to their varied emotional
and financial needs. I also wish to contribute to the holistic development of my country in terms
of the design and fashion industry. Thus, the immense love towards my family members and my
moral obligations makes me determined not to exceed my stay in Canada beyond my study
period.

Declaration
I am positive that my prior academic work experience and passion for leadership will stand me in
good stead in the program. I truly believe that this course would help me facilitate key
developmental professional skills and include entrepreneurial and employability attributes for
opening doors to ample opportunities for me. I am sure that my diligence and quest for learning
more will be a stepping stone to reaching the pinnacle I have dreamt of. Hence, I request you to
kindly consider my application for a student visa favorably and grant me the same.

Regards,
Shagun Pandey