MUMBAI: Producer - director Subhash Ghai and fashion designer Neeta Lulla have joined hands to launch a fashion school, which will be called Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion (WWNL).

Spearheaded academically by Lulla and featuring a guest faculty of fashion industry greats, WWNL aims to create the next generation of fashion designers and fashion industry professionals. WWNL will commence classes in August with admissions opening in the second week of May.

Ghai said, "Fashion has always played an integral role in films. Through fashion, characters come alive before the camera. Neeta Lulla who has spent so many years with the industry has continually strived to grow the field of fashion, both within the film industry and outside of it. I‘m delighted that Whistling Woods is partnering with her to create the Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion."

Courses run will be a Diploma in Fashion Design (one year) and an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design (two years). The WWNL School of Fashion will also be bridging the gap between industry and academia by bringing on board an advisory board consisting of industry specialists, guest and visiting faculty from the industry. The institute also plans to invite globally renowned teachers from Europe‘s finest fashion schools and the global fashion industry to deliver guest lectures.

Lulla added, "When I started out in the fashion industry, there were limited options available within fashion education in India but today, it gives me great pride to announce our school of fashion that will train fashion aspirants to excel at the highest levels. I could not see a better fit than Whistling Woods to partner with and to launch a structured comprehensive School of Fashion and I‘m thrilled to be working with Subhashji and his institute for the same."

Whistling Woods International president Meghna Ghai-Puri said, "We‘re very excited to be launching the fashion space. This is something we‘ve wanted to do for a long time and we couldn‘t have found a better partner. Whistling Woods has always been the best platform for industry aspirants. With the launch of the Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion, we are reinforcing our commitment to developing local talent in all spheres of the thriving Indian film industry."