Editorial Careers with Elle India

From magazine covers to on-set realities – an inside look at building a career in fashion media and visual storytelling, with former Fashion Director at Elle India, Zoha Castelino.

Zoha Castelino – former Fashion Director at Elle India and now a freelance stylist – led an insightful session for students, offering a real-world perspective on careers in fashion journalism and editorial styling.

Drawing from her journey from Fashion Editor to Fashion Director, she highlighted how careers in fashion often evolve unexpectedly – from her early interest in journalism to building a career in visual storytelling. Zoha broke down the process behind editorial shoots and magazine covers – from concept development and creative direction to collaborating with photographers and managing on-set challenges.

She also clarified key industry roles – explaining the difference between a Fashion Editor and Fashion Director – while sharing the realities of working in a fast-paced, high-pressure fashion media environment. The session further explored leadership, team building and adaptability – emphasising the importance of initiative and staying relevant in an ever-evolving industry.

Concluding with practical advice, Zoha encouraged students to stay curious, embrace change and confidently explore different career paths within fashion.

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