ASHNA SAHNI

Ashna Sahni is a fashion professional whose work bridges creative design, fashion management, merchandising, and commercial strategy. With an academic foundation spanning fashion design and fashion design management, she brings a multidisciplinary understanding of how creative concepts evolve into products, brands, and commercially successful retail offerings.

She holds an MA in Fashion Design Management from the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, and a Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. Her education combines the creative principles of fashion and textile design with the strategic and commercial considerations that shape the contemporary fashion industry.

Professionally, Ashna has developed experience across fashion design, textile development, creative direction, and merchandising. Her work has given her insight into multiple stages of the fashion value chain, from product development and brand positioning to assortment planning and retail performance. This combination of creative and commercial experience informs her understanding of the relationship between design identity, consumer preferences, and business strategy.

Ashna currently serves as a Senior Merchandiser at COYU, the curated multi brand fashion platform developed by Lyskraft India. In this role, she contributes to the development of the platform's brand portfolio through the identification, evaluation, and onboarding of labels that align with its aesthetic, positioning, and customer aspirations. Her work encompasses brand curation, merchandise assortment, product relevance, and commercial considerations, helping shape a retail offering that balances distinctive design perspectives with market demand.

Alongside her industry practice, Ashna has an academic interest in the application of emerging technologies to fashion product development. Her dissertation, "Exploring 3D Design Technology for Indian Small Fashion Firms on New Product Development Process: Technology Acceptance Model Perspectives," was published through a NIFT Kangra conference. Her research examined the relationship between technology acceptance and product development practices among small fashion firms in India, reflecting a broader interest in innovation and the evolving processes of the fashion industry.

Ashna also has a longstanding connection to the textile sector through her family's textile manufacturing and trading business, which has approximately four decades of industry experience. This exposure complements her formal education and professional practice, contributing to her understanding of textiles, manufacturing, product development, and the relationships connecting designers, producers, exporters, and buyers.

At Counselion, Ashna brings this blend of creative expertise, industry experience, and academic insight to educational advisory in fashion and related creative disciplines. She supports students in exploring academic pathways that connect their creative interests with the wider possibilities of fashion design, fashion management, merchandising, and the business of creative industries. Her perspective is particularly valuable for students seeking to understand the distinctions between design led and management focused programmes and to make informed choices about their future direction.

Her approach reflects Counselion's commitment to personalized, globally informed guidance: helping students look beyond individual degree titles to understand the skills, perspectives, and professional opportunities that different educational pathways can offer.