Summer Fashion Camps for Teens

Got a teen who loves to sew, is always sketching new fashion designs, or focuses on other fashion related activities? If so, summer fashion camps may be an educational way to encourage their interest in fashion and let them test-drive a future career.

What Happens at Summer Fashion Camps

Attending fashion camps gives teens an insider's point of view into the world of fashion design, haute couture, and modeling. They learn all aspects of the industry from how to sketch a design, the steps of garment construction, fitting clothing to body forms, to strutting their stuff on catwalks modeling finished items.

No prior experience is needed, so do not worry if your child cannot operate a sewing machine. Most summer fashion camps teach the basics of hand and machine sewing, and some even offer one-on-one instruction. By the end of your camper's stay, she can create wearable garments and has started to build her own one-of-a-kind fashion wardrobe.

Fashion Camp Fees and Overview

Camp tuition range from approximately $375 weekly to $2,000, so there is a fashion camp to fit any budget or educational need. Most classes are stand-alone, so campers can pick and choose from course offerings according to their preferences. For instance, one summer fashion camp attendee might want to focus on creating accessories, like handbags, while another would prefer learning how to design fashion forward apparel. Classes are taught by industry professionals from companies like Tommy Hilfiger or American Eagle, or from the staffs of prestigious institutions like Parsons School of Design, the Fashion Institute of Technology, or Pratt.

Where to Find a Fashion Camp for Summer 2010

Let's look at some of the top summer fashion camps for 2010. The Fashion Design Institute at Pauli Overnight runs from June 20 to August 14, and is based out of California. The camp is age appropriate for teens nine to sixteen, and there are one or two-week sessions from which to choose. Teens learn what everybody ought to know about fashion, work hands-on to complete an original project, and model in the Pauli Fashion showcase. To learn more about this summer fashion camp, visit their website.

The Summer Fashion Lab Camp in Norwalk, Connecticut and Europe 2010 is an intensive but interactive way for kids to jump into learning about fashion design. The program is geared toward youths who are 11 to 19. Morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions are available, so families can choose the program which best suits their lifestyles. This fashion camp is available from June 29^th to August 6^th, and spaces are limited, so get those applications in quickly.

Fashion Camp NYC is a day camp for kids in grades 8 to 12 - tweens to teens - and is located in Midtown Manhattan - fashion central. They offer four 5-day sessions, and classes are held at the College for the Business of Fashion. Camp runs from July 12^th to August 6^th, and spots are filled on a first come, first served basis.

Help aspiring fashion designer teens fight boredom this summer by letting them learn about fabrics, benefit from mentoring by qualified professionals, and add some high fashion clothes to their wardrobes. They learn new skills or improve existing ones, or just have the chance to try something new. Remember to reserve early as camp slots fill quickly.