Fashion Camp 2026

ISU Summer Fashion Camp 2026 is your chance to experience fashion like a real designer—hands-on, creative, and behind the scenes with one of the Midwest’s top fashion programs!

Explore your creativity by building mood boards and forecasting future trends, then turn your ideas into reality as you design and create your own garment and learn the basics of visual merchandising. You’ll also practice styling and draping techniques to shape silhouettes and take your designs to the next level. Get a taste of the industry by visual merchandising our on-campus retail store, and end the week in the best way possible—showcasing your work in a fashion exhibition your friends and family can attend!

Dates: Sunday, July 26th, 2026 – Friday, July 31st, 2026
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 several garments 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.
Capacity: Fashion Camp is limited to the first 20 registrants. Those registering after Fashion Camp is full will be put on a waiting list and contacted if space opens.

Cost

Iowa State Fashion Camp has two options: on-campus and commuter. On-campus pricing is $925 (if registering before April 30, the cost is $825) and commuter pricing is $725 (if registering before April 30th, 2026, the cost is $625).

Payment can be made in full. Or, monthly installation payment options are available. Payments begin the month you register and end in July, before camp begins. The number of payments and price per payment is based on when you register.

  • On-campus: The on-campus option includes overnight accommodations in an Iowa State suite-style dorm, all meals, and all workshop supplies. Cost is $925 – If registering before April 30 the cost is $825.
  • Commuter: The commuter option includes lunch and all workshop supplies; campers must arrive by 9 a.m. and depart at 5 p.m. Cost is $725 – if registering before April 30 the cost is $625.

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 Fashion Design and Merchandising program are Camp Assistants and will stay and dine with campers.

Schedule

A detailed schedule will also be provided at check in!

Sunday, July 26th, 2026

  • 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 27th – 31st 2026

Design Workshops

  • Develop a mood board
  • Basic fashion illustration
  • Basic sewing skills
  • Draping/Patternmaking

Merchandising/Fashion Communication Workshops

  • Trend forecasting
  • Styling
  • Floor planning
  • Visual merchandising

Touring hands-on lab spaces throughout Iowa State’s campus related to the fashion industry

  • T-shirt design activity using ice-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 31st 2026

  • 3 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.
  • 3:30 – 5 p.m. – Fashion Reception and Exhibition
  • 5 p.m. – Camp ends, families and campers depart

Contact Information

Camp Directors:

Yvonne Lee

heajool@iastate.edu

Jason Gagnon

jgagnon@iastate.edu