Behind the Seams: How NIF Borivali’s Celebrity Mentorship Rewrites the Rules of Fashion Education

There are fashion institutes where students learn from books.

And then there’s NIF Borivali—where students learn from people who write the books.

But more than that—people who dress the stars, reinvent silhouettes for cinema, shape the aesthetic of entire decades. The people you see backstage at couture shows, in styling suites on film sets, in front of mood boards rather than lecture slides.

Here, mentorship is not an occasional guest lecture. It is a full-bodied part of the education. And in no other design school in Mumbai is that more visible—or more personal—than at NIF Borivali.

Let’s examine how this unique approach to celebrity coaching isn’t just a perk. It’s a strategy. A carefully curated mentorship model that shapes students into serious, self-assured professionals.

Part I: Where Theory Ends and Legacy Begins

Knowing color theory or pattern-making is important for a young designer. But imagine learning how to build a brand, craft an identity, or create emotion through clothes from someone who has styled Bollywood’s biggest stars or built couture empires from scratch.

That’s not classroom learning.

That’s something else entirely.

At NIF Borivali, celebrity mentorship isn’t about selfies and name-drops. It’s about access. About long-form knowledge transfer from people who’ve lived the fashion lifecycle in the real world—from sketchbook to spotlight.

This isn’t a one-time celebrity visit for campus PR. This is mentorship that stays, evolves, and engages.

Part II: The Faces Behind the Fashion—and Their Footprint on Campus

Ashley Rebello

If you’ve watched Dabangg, Kick, or Bodyguard, you’ve already seen his work—even if you didn’t know his name. As Salman Khan’s go-to stylist and one of India’s most versatile costume designers, Ashley Rebello brings a rare combination of glamour and grit to his sessions.

At NIF Borivali, he goes beyond styling tutorials. He talks about:

• How to work under tight film production deadlines
• What it takes to manage a personal styling career and a costume design studio
• How a designer builds trust with high-profile clients

His sessions feel less like lectures and more like storytime in a design war room—full of anecdotes, hard truths, and insights into an industry most students have only dreamed of entering.

Twinkle Khanna

Entrepreneur, columnist, bestselling author, and lifestyle icon Twinkle Khanna brings more than just fashion credentials; she brings perspective.

What she adds to NIF Borivali’s mentorship isn’t design instruction per se but a razor-sharp lens on fashion’s intersection with culture, commerce, and communication. Students lucky enough to attend her workshops have left with more than aesthetic insights. They’ve left with clarity on the following:

• The power of storytelling in branding
• How to define your voice in a saturated market
• The long-term vision of building a label that’s meaningful—not just marketable

Twinkle’s presence is vital for young women designers looking to carve out space for themselves on their terms.

Manish Malhotra

What can you even say about Manish Malhotra that hasn’t already been said?

The man who introduced stylized fashion narratives to Hindi cinema. The one who made bridal couture aspirational and then made it attainable. His virtual training programs and curated content for NIF Borivali students are nothing short of masterclass material.

But what’s truly compelling is how open he is about failure. He shares how certain collections didn’t land, how the press can turn, how the public’s taste evolves, and how reinvention is non-negotiable in fashion. It’s a vulnerable kind of mentorship that prepares students for more than runway glamour—it prepares them for resilience.

Part III: Structuring Stardom—How These Sessions Work

So, what do these mentorships look like in practice? Here’s the inside view:

1. Thematic Masterclasses

NIF Borivali organizes masterclasses around current trends or technical skill gaps each semester. These are usually led by visiting celebrities or established alums in the field. Unlike regular guest lectures, they:

• Span multiple days or weeks
• Include critique-based assignments
• Lead to tangible outputs like collection mini-shows, editorials, or styling challenges.

2. One-on-One Review Labs

Top-performing students are often shortlisted for personalized review sessions where celebrity mentors review their portfolios, projects, and sketchbooks—offering brutally honest, highly actionable feedback. These aren’t just moments of praise. They’re turning points.

3. Live Shoots and Event Styling Shadow Programs

Certain mentors, especially stylists, often invite students to assist on real-world assignments: fashion shoots, ad campaigns, and red carpet fittings. This is where students learn the invisible skills—time management, model handling, media coordination, and last-minute improvisation.

4. Fashion Week Access and After-Sessions

NIF Borivali’s connections allow students to attend events like Lakme Fashion Week, contribute backstage, observe fittings, and interact with designers post-show. These moments often lead to freelance work, internships, or long-term collaborations.

Part IV: Why It Works—And Why Other Institutes Struggle to Imitate It

Here’s a truth most schools won’t admit: celebrity lectures are easy to book. Meaningful mentorship is not.

So why does the model work at NIF Borivali?

• Deep Roots in the Industry: The leadership at NIF has spent decades building goodwill and networks. The mentorship program wasn’t created for marketing—it evolved from real relationships.
• Flexible Curriculum: Most institutes have rigid academic calendars that don’t allow unpredictable mentorship schedules. NIF Borivali bakes this flexibility into its academic design.
• Student Readiness: What’s the point of a celebrity mentor if the students aren’t ready to absorb that level of feedback? The foundational training at NIF ensures that students aren’t just showing up—they’re showcasing.
• Mentorship is Ongoing, Not One-Off: Most institutes bring in a speaker for a day. At NIF Borivali, mentors return across batches, sometimes even over the years, creating a deeper educational bond.

Part V: Mentorship Outcomes—How It Translates Into Real Careers

You’d be surprised how many portfolios get passed across desks in Bollywood because a mentor whispered a name. Or how many resumes get fast-tracked at fashion houses because “this one worked under Ashley during his last shoot.”

That’s not nepotism. That’s network. Earned.

Some of the direct outcomes NIF Borivali students have seen thanks to this celebrity coaching model:

• Styling internships with film production houses
• Assistant designer roles under celebrity labels
• Invitations to contribute to magazine editorials
• Launch support for indie fashion brands
• PR and influencer engagement for student collections

In other words, access, visibility, and real work.

Part VI: But It’s Not for the Faint of Heart

You should know one thing before you get too starry-eyed about all of this.

Celebrity mentors don’t sugarcoat.

When Ashley Rebello tells you your silhouette doesn’t work, he means it. When Twinkle Khanna questions your storytelling, she won’t soften the blow. When Malhotra calls your color palette safe, he expects you to return and redo it with fire.

Because of this toughness, NIF Borivali students come out sharper, stronger, and more confident. Their mentorship style is rooted not in coddling but in credibility.

Final Word: It’s Not Just Who You Learn From. It’s What They Unlock In You.

Most fashion schools teach students how to follow trends.

NIF Borivali teaches students to start them.

And part of that confidence—part of that ambition—comes from standing shoulder to shoulder with the people who’ve already walked that path and redefined it.

The celebrity coaching model at NIF Borivali isn’t a highlight.

It’s a pillar.

A bridge between the classroom and the catwalk.

Between potential and profession.

If you’re ready to learn from the names who shape India’s fashion language—

Apply now at www.nifborivali.com

Because one conversation with the right mentor can change everything.