A mainstream private school has opened its fashion studies laboratory to financially disadvantaged girls in its neighbourhood.

The vocational training in fashion studies will make the girls more employable and help them to generate a livelihood, said the principal of Mahadevi Birla World Academy.

The girls from an NGO — Ek Tara — have been invited by the school for a four-month training. The classes that began in May are held twice a week for two hours in the afternoon.

The school, affiliated to the CBSE, offers fashion studies as a subject in Classes XI and XII. As many as 30 students of the school opted for the subject in 2024.

"Fashion studies is a popular subject. We thought of extending it to other students in our vicinity and sharing our resources with them after we noticed that they have an interest and a certain expertise in the subject," said Anjana Saha, principal, Mahadevi Birla World Academy.

"We did a survey in the locality and found out that these girls are good in handiwork and training would help them in the long run to earn a livelihood," Saha said.

The fashion studies teacher in the school is conducting the classes for the girls.

The school has prepared a module where they will be taught the basics of design, identification of fabric, measurements and stitches required in garment making.

"While fashion studies look glamorous to many from the outside, one has to understand that it requires precision and a knowledge of colour, fabrics and design. How it changes according to seasons and also moods," said Atindra Chaudhury, the fashion studies teacher at Mahadevi Birla World Academy.

For the girls of Ek Tara, it will go a long way in creating opportunities for them and building their confidence.

"We have selected the girls who aspire to get into designing and this training would make them more efficient and professional in their approach," said Anupriya Bhattacharya, associate director, Ek Tara.

"They can start by making school uniforms and shirts, which would generate employment for them," she said.

The girls are aged between 18 to 25 years, she said.

Chaudhury said that visit to a manufacturing unit is part of the module and the girls who show promise could bag an industry internship.

"Fashion studies is a 100-mark paper offered as a skill subject to the students of the school. The vocational training which is part of our outreach can help these girls build a start-up too," said Chaudhury.