Fashion Camp 2024
Fashion Camp 2024 will give you a hands-on experience with one of the Midwest’s top fashion programs! You’ll learn about merchandising, develop mood boards, forecast trends, create something new by up-cycling old garments, design a custom t-shirt, flip our on-campus retail store, and your week will culminate with a fashion show your friends and family can attend. The camp is led by faculty and students in Iowa State’s Apparel, Merchandising, and Design program.
Explore your interests, learn what area of the industry you’re passionate about, leave with new skills and start thinking about your future career in the global fashion industry!
Dates: Sunday, July 14 through Friday, July 19
Location: Iowa State University’s campus in Ames, Iowa
What’s included: All meals, lodging, evening activities, and supplies for projects are included (with on-campus option). Campers will be asked to bring an old garment for the up-cycling project.
Who can attend: Students entering 9th through 12th grade and students who have completed 12th grade and have an interest in fashion.
Cost
$675 for first-time campers, on-campus
$475 for commuters
- On-campus: The on-campus option includes overnight accommodations in an Iowa State suite-style dorm, all meals, and all workshop supplies.
- Commuter: The commuter option includes lunch and all workshop supplies; campers must arrive by 9:30 a.m. and depart at 5 p.m.
Your Experience
Campers have the opportunity to explore different learning tracks throughout the camp! The fashion design track includes workshops where you’ll learn skills like fashion illustration, Photoshop, sewing and assembling a garment. In the merchandising/fashion communication track, you’ll learn trend forecasting, styling, floor planning and visual merchandising. No experience is necessary and our Camp Leaders will help you select your workshops.
In the evenings, on-campus campers will explore campus and the community of Ames with Camp Assistants.
Accommodations
On-campus campers will stay in Martin Hall, a suite-style residence hall building with their fellow campers. Each suite accommodates four people with two people per bedroom. Suite mates share a living area, sinks, and a toilet/shower room. Meals will be at the nearby Union Drive Community Center, an all-you-care-to-dine establishment. Iowa State students in the Apparel, Merchandising, and Design program are Camp Assistants and will stay and dine with campers.
Schedule
Sunday, July 14
- 3 – 5 p.m. – Check-in in the registration at Martin Hall (131 Beyer Court, Ames Iowa)
- 5:30 -7 p.m. – Intro to Summer camp with both commuters and on-campus campers, families, and Camp Assistants . Families of on-campus campers can depart after the intro to summer camp session.
- 7 – 9 p.m. – Evening activities and camp rules
Monday – Friday, July 15 – 19
Design/PD Track Workshops
- Basic fashion illustration
- Basic Photoshop
- Basic sewing skills
- Assembling project: recycling with old/non-functional garments to create something new
Merchandising/Fashion Communication Track Workshops
- Trend forecasting
- Styling
- Floor planning
- Visual merchandising
Hands On Activities
- Touring hands-on lab spaces throughout Iowa State’s campus related to the fashion industry
- T-shirt design activity using tie-dye
- Museum activity utilizing Iowa State’s Historic Textiles and Clothing Museum
- Non-woven project, sustainable design
Group Evening Activities
Camp Assistants will lead group activities in the evening, taking campers to explore places on Iowa State’s campus and throughout the city of Ames.
Friday Evening, July 19
- 5:30 p.m. – Families arrive at the Student Innovation Center. Your camper will have their belongings with them and you will leave from the Student Innovation Center.
- 6 – 7 p.m. – Fashion Reception and Exhibition
- 8 p.m. – Camp ends, families and campers depart
Registration Information
Registration is online and payment is made through the registration form. A detailed schedule will be provided at check-in. Camp is limited to 20 participants. When it is full, campers can request to be put on a waiting list.
Questions? Contact Yvonne Lee at heajool@iastate.edu and Jason Gagnon at jgagnon@iastate.edu.