Sewing South Asian Garments, Your Way

At The NPD Academy, I teach you the skills to confidently create South Asian garments that feel like you — from Shalwar Kameez and Kameez to pattern drafting, fit, cutting and finishing.

Whether you're starting from scratch or refining your skills, I make the process clear, practical and achievable.

No gatekeeping. No unnecessary terminology. Just proper sewing skills, taught in a way that makes sense.

Our Mission

Preserve South Asian sewing heritage for future generations

Preserve

Teach professional sewing skills with clarity and structure

Teach

Empower women and the next generation of makers through education and confidence-building

Empower

Meet Neelam

I didn't create The NPD Academy because the world needed another sewing school. I created it because I wanted South Asian sewing to be taught properly.

I’m Neelam, founder of The NPD Academy and a lifelong lover of sewing, fashion and South Asian dress.

I started The NPD Academy because I wanted to make the skills behind South Asian garments more accessible. There’s so much knowledge in the way these clothes are drafted, fitted and constructed — and I wanted to teach those techniques in a way that feels practical, modern and achievable.

Today, I teach students how to understand fit, pattern drafting, cutting and construction, so they’re not just following instructions — they actually understand what they’re making and why.

From my Bradford studio to students learning online around the world, my goal is simple:

To give you the skills and confidence to create clothes you’re genuinely proud to wear.