Ms. Neena Shashikant Lokare is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fashion Design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai. With over twenty-two years of combined industry and academic experience, she specialises in technical draping, fashion styling, Indian textiles, sustainable fashion, and design pedagogy. She teaches undergraduate courses, mentors students through experiential learning, and serves as the Student Development and Activities Coordinator (SDAC) at NIFT Mumbai.

Her research focuses on Indian handloom textiles, textile heritage, sustainable and circular fashion, craft documentation, digital fashion, and design innovation. She is the lead author and curator of the Ministry of Textiles-supported coffee table book Styling My Handloom – Reimagining Indian Heritage and has published research on sustainable fashion and contemporary interventions in traditional textiles. She actively collaborates with artisans, industry, museums, and academic institutions to promote craft-based research, experiential learning, and design innovation.

Beyond teaching and research, she conducts workshops, exhibitions, and programmes that celebrate India's textile heritage. She enjoys mentoring young designers, developing industry-academia collaborations, and creating learning experiences that connect traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design practice. She is committed to preserving India's craft traditions while encouraging innovation through design education.