If you’re interested in fashion, taking part in fashion programs while you’re still in high school is a great way to see if this is the right fit for you before deciding to pursue it in college. These programs give you the chance to develop technical skills and learn about merchandising analytics, retail operations, brand strategy, and the business frameworks that drive fashion companies. Beyond technical training, fashion programs connect you with professionals working in design studios, buying offices, and creative agencies. You’ll also work on portfolio development, market research projects, and collaborative presentations that mirror real industry workflows. Whether you’re drawn to the creative side—be it styling, design, visual merchandising—or the analytical side, like forecasting, buying, supply chain, these programs help you identify which specialization suits you.
Why participate in a fashion program as a high school student?
Fashion programs give you direct exposure to industry workflows you won’t encounter in standard coursework. You’ll learn specialized techniques like draping on dress forms, creating technical flats in Adobe Illustrator, analyzing consumer behavior data, or developing seasonal buying plans. Programs often include site visits to design studios, manufacturing facilities, retail headquarters, or fashion museums, showing you how products move from concept to consumer. These experiences help you build a professional portfolio, essential for art and design school applications, while developing skills in visual communication, trend analysis, and project management.
With that, here are 15 fashion programs for high school students worth checking out!
If interested, take a look at these blogs on marketing internships or art internships for high school students.
15 Fashion Programs for High School Students
1. Gap Inc.’s This Way ONward
Location: Local Old Navy stores across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Year-round program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students between the ages 16-24
This Way ONward is a paid retail internship that trains you in customer service, visual merchandising, inventory management, and sales floor operations. You’ll work directly with store managers and team members, developing skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving while gaining hands-on experience in the fashion retail environment. The program includes job coaching and professional development workshops to prepare you for entry-level retail positions. You’ll participate in structured training on point-of-sale systems, stock management, and customer engagement strategies. Strong performers may be considered for brand associate positions at Old Navy, providing a direct pathway into the fashion retail industry.
2. URBN Internships
Location: Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA (some remote positions)
Stipend: Paid (competitive hourly rate)
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
At URBN (parent company of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People), you’ll work on trend research, data analysis, merchandising support, or creative projects, depending on your department placement. You’ll assist with market analysis, compile competitive intelligence reports, or support buying teams with product selection and inventory planning. The internship includes exposure to leadership through mentorship sessions, networking events, and off-site visits to retail locations. You’ll develop skills in retail analytics, visual presentation, trend forecasting, and cross-functional collaboration while experiencing the operational structure of a multi-brand fashion company.
3. Vogue Summer School NYC
Location: Conde Nast College of Fashion & Design, New York City, NY
Cost: $1,500 per course; Scholarships available
Dates: 2-week sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling; Early application recommended
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders or recent graduates (ages 15-18)
Vogue Summer School NYC is a two-week pre-college program taught by Vogue and Condé Nast professionals, covering fashion business, media, and styling through hands-on coursework. You’ll participate in behind-the-scenes visits to fashion studios, brand headquarters, and Vogue offices, gaining direct exposure to editorial workflows and brand operations. The program offers both residential and day options, with instruction focused on industry practices like editorial planning, brand positioning, and visual storytelling. You’ll work on projects involving trend analysis, media production, or styling concepts, depending on your course selection. Upon completion, you’ll receive certificates and instructor feedback evaluating your work.
4. Banson NYC Fashion Summer Camp
Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling (until 20 seats filled)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12
This intensive week-long program combines classroom instruction with visits to design studios, showrooms, and museums. You’ll learn about the fashion design process, merchandising operations, and buying strategies through lectures and site visits. The small cohort of 20 students allows for direct interaction with industry professionals and hands-on project work. You’ll explore how designers develop collections, how buyers select merchandise for retail, and how merchandisers position products in stores. The program includes group dinners and networking activities that connect you with other fashion-interested students.
5. Istituto Marangoni Miami: Fashion Summer Camp
Location: Istituto Marangoni Miami, Miami, FL
Cost: $3,000 (domestic); ~$3,500 (international); Additional fees apply
Dates: Multiple dates across June – July
Application Deadline: April 2; Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (15+) able to commute
This program focuses on helping you build a strong fashion portfolio for university applications. As a participant, you will work with instructors to develop creative projects that demonstrate your design skills, concept development, and technical abilities. You’ll explore key aspects of fashion design, including fashion illustration, mood board creation, fabric experimentation, and garment concept development. Through guided studio sessions, you’ll refine your personal aesthetic while learning how to present ideas clearly and professionally. The program also introduces portfolio layout, visual storytelling, and design presentation techniques, helping you compile a cohesive body of work that reflects both creativity and technical understanding.
6. Parsons School of Design: Summer Intensive Studies
Location: Parsons Greenwich Village, New York, NY
Cost: $5,610 + $265 fee
Dates: Session 1: June 8 – 26; Session 2: July 6 – 24
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 8; Session 2: June 1
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16-18
Over three weeks, you’ll study a fashion-focused subject through studio classes, workshops, field trips, and talks with industry professionals. You’ll work on portfolio-quality projects under Parsons faculty guidance. The program includes visits to New York’s fashion district, museums, and design studios, connecting classroom learning with real-world industry practice. You’ll learn techniques in areas like fashion illustration, pattern drafting, textile manipulation, or fashion marketing, depending on your chosen course. The program awards college credit and produces portfolio pieces suitable for art school applications.
7. Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Pre-College Program
Location: FIT, New York, NY
Cost: 10-day class: $550 (all fees included)
Dates: July 6 – 21
Application Deadline: June 10
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
FIT’s Precollege Program offers courses in fashion design, merchandising, marketing, photography, interior design, and media production. You can choose 10-day intensive classes or 4-day workshops offered throughout fall, spring, and summer. You’ll learn in a college setting with instruction from FIT faculty and industry professionals, gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard techniques. Courses cover skills like technical sketching, draping, sewing, construction, retail math, trend forecasting, and digital design tools. The program helps you build portfolio pieces and explore potential college majors while developing technical competencies used in professional fashion careers.
8. Drexel University Fashion Design Reimagined
Location: Drexel University campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $2,220
Dates: July 16 – 22
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (16+) who have completed sophomore year
This selective program accepts only 18 students annually, providing intensive studio experience in Drexel’s fashion facilities. You’ll work with fabrics and materials to create apparel designs, attending demonstrations and workshops led by Drexel faculty and industry professionals. You’ll use advanced design technology, including Shima Seiki’s Apex knitwear design simulator and CLO-3D fashion design software. These tools are used by professional designers for 3D garment visualization, fit testing, and digital pattern development. You’ll learn how technology integrates with traditional design processes, from concept sketching to digital prototyping.
9. Pratt Institute Summer Pre-College Program
Location: Pratt Institute – Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $8,192 (residential); $5,452 (commuter); $65 application fee
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students ages 16-18
At Pratt, you’ll take college-level coursework in fashion-focused subjects, working in professional studios with state-of-the-art equipment under faculty with industry experience. You’ll participate in studio practice, workshops, and visits to New York cultural sites. The program helps you develop portfolio pieces, explore college majors, and earn elective college credits while experiencing campus life. You’ll learn technical skills in areas like fashion illustration, textile design, garment construction, or fashion communication, depending on your course selection. The intensive format provides sustained focus on developing your creative and technical abilities.
10. Texas Woman’s University (TWU) Fashion Design Camps
Location: TWU, Denton, TX
Cost: $595
Dates: June – July (dates vary by camp)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13-18
This five-day camp teaches fundamental sewing and apparel construction skills while covering fashion sketching, trend board development, design concepts, textiles, and color theory. You’ll work under guidance from TWU fashion faculty, local professionals, and undergraduate mentors. The camp culminates in a mini fashion show where you present garments you created during the week. You’ll learn basic construction techniques like pattern reading, fabric cutting, machine sewing, and garment finishing. Projects help you understand the design-to-production process, from initial concept development through final presentation.
11. The Met’s Summer High School Internship
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Dates: July 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in or attending school in NY, NJ, or CT
This paid internship places you in Met departments, including education, conservation, digital media, marketing, or curatorial teams, where you’ll work on department-specific projects. You’ll participate in career labs, workshops, and networking events while learning museum operations from collection management to exhibition planning. Your placement includes one-on-one mentorship from museum professionals and collaborative group activities with other interns. You’ll develop skills in areas like archival research, conservation techniques, digital asset management, visitor engagement strategies, or marketing analytics, depending on your department. The program provides insight into how museums preserve, interpret, and present fashion and textiles as cultural objects.
12. Interlochen Arts Camp – Fashion Program
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI
Cost: $7,265
Dates: Session 1: June 28 – July 18; Session 2: July 19 – August 9
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school students
Over three weeks, you’ll develop skills in sewing, garment construction, and fashion figure drawing while studying techniques from historical and contemporary designers. You’ll create a cohesive wearable art collection, learning collection planning, material selection, and design presentation. The program provides lectures, one-on-one tutorials, and mentorship from professional artists and guest instructors. You’ll learn how to research design inspiration, develop a design concept, select appropriate fabrics, execute construction techniques, and present finished work professionally. The intensive format allows sustained focus on developing both creative vision and technical execution.
13. Idyllwild Arts Fashion Design Intensive
Location: Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild, CA
Cost: $5,275
Dates: Session I: June 28 – July 11; Session II: July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 14-17; No prior experience required
In this two-week intensive, you’ll work in a professional studio environment, developing concepts, building mood boards, selecting fabrics, and designing garments from concept to completion. You’ll learn patternmaking, cutting, and sewing techniques through hands-on practice. Experienced instructors provide close guidance as you develop original designs and experiment with personal creative expression. The program culminates in a runway show where you’ll present your completed pieces, experiencing what it’s like to work toward a professional deadline. You’ll develop both technical skills and creative confidence through focused project work.
14. LIM College Summer Fashion Academy
Location: LIM College, Manhattan, NY
Cost: Non-credit workshops: $195 – $275; Business of Fashion course: $1,295
Dates: July 10 – August 3
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school students
You’ll explore merchandising, marketing, styling, digital design, and fashion business through classes, workshops, and group projects that demonstrate product development, promotion, and sales processes. Industry professionals and faculty will guide you through practical exercises. The academy offers both in-person and online formats, allowing you to choose what works for your schedule. You’ll work on projects involving retail strategies, brand positioning, visual merchandising, trend analysis, and digital marketing. The program provides insight into fashion’s business side, including supply chain operations, buying decisions, and consumer psychology.
15. NYU High School Summer Art Intensive: Curating Fashion
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $2,600
Dates: July 5 – 25
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders (ages 15-18)
Over two weeks, you’ll research garments, analyze their historical and cultural significance, and develop exhibition themes while working with NYU faculty and guest speakers from the fashion and museum fields. You’ll participate in studio workshops, museum visits, and collaborative projects. You’ll design and present a group-curated fashion exhibition, learning how fashion communicates ideas, culture, and artistic vision. The program teaches critical analysis skills, curatorial practice, exhibition design, and interpretive writing.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – Parsons School of Design