The future of fashion media will belong to those who are able to tell a compelling story. It’s why ELLE Singapore has partnered with LASALLE College of the Arts to bring the classroom into a conversation with the industry. 

Initiated in January 2026, the six-month project challenged 15 students from the college’s Diploma in Creative Direction for Fashion programme to produce an editorial spread revolving around “High Summer”. The three strongest concepts will be featured in the magazine’s June 2026 issue. 

The students were tasked to interpret the theme through a dual lens: From a global and seasonal trend perspective, and a distinctly Singaporean point of view. Students started by developing a mood board that included colour palettes, key visuals and art direction, which then evolved into a detailed execution plan. The process mirrored the realities of editorial production, which demands both creativity and strategy. 

The ELLE editorial team was looking for 360-degree concepts that could be fully realised, considering visual direction, narrative clarity and cultural relevance in equal measure. In their final pitch, students had to demonstrate the ability to bridge academic exploration with industry-standard execution, with an eye towards achieving real-world outcomes. 

Each student team had to produce four hero images alongside a short-form video, accompanied by comprehensive development boards that mapped out their research and understanding of brand DNA. They were expected to deliver not just a series of images, but also a cohesive narrative that aligned with ELLE Singapore’s visual language and audience. The editorial team actively engaged with the students throughout the whole process: Explaining the brief, guiding them through constructive feedback, and offering insightful critiques at the project’s conclusion. 

Not only will the students retain the copyright to their work, the three shortlisted works will be credited across ELLE Singapore’s print and digital platforms, foregrounding the importance of recognising authorship in the professional context. At its core, ELLE Goes Back to School is as much about education as it is about exchange. It recognises that while fashion is shaped by experience, it is also propelled by fresh perspectives that emerge from the next generation.