Calling all fashionistas: UFV offers fashion camp for future designers

Do you have a fashionista in your life?

Maybe they’ve seen one too many episodes of What Not to Wear, or maybe their Barbie catwalks rival those of Milan’s fashion week. Maybe they’re your go-to critic when you’re looking for a second opinion on your outfit, or maybe they’ve got a daring sense of style that you admire. Or maybe they aren’t a fashion guru just yet — but have aspirations to become one.

Regardless of where your fashionista is on their path, UFV has an event that will be a perfect fit. For the first time ever this year, UFV’s fashion design program is offering a fashion camp for future designers ages 14–19 from July 9–13.

Participants will get a taste for all sides of the fashion industry, from working with fabric to developing a website, sketching fashion figures to putting together a collection.

“It’s really an opportunity to give a younger group a chance to understand what the fashion industry is about,” explains Corinne Richardson, one of the camp organizers. “They’ll be drawing, sewing, organizing, learning about the business side of things — a little bit of everything.”

For five days, participants will start at 9 am and keep going until 4 pm. There will be some aspects of design, Richardson says, but the camp will also explore the business side of the industry — what ties a collection together into a marketable product.

The camp is aimed not only at fashion enthusiasts, but also those who are interested in design as a whole.

“It’s also about learning what colours work together and what elements will create a cohesive style,” Richardson explains. “We’ll be working with design programs and theories that would carry over into any design career. These are very transferable skills.”

Participants will also gain experience with another influential aspect of the fashion world: digital media.

“The participants will have a chance to see what goes into building a website or a fashion blog,” Richardson says. “At the end of the day, everyone has a perspective on fashion, and starting a fashion blog is one way to do that.”

All in all, the organizers hope that by the end of the week, participants will build up several important skills, including a familiarity with textiles and basic sewing equipment but also with some of the theories that drive the fashion industry, as well as an understand of design. Richardson also stresses that they aren’t expecting every attendee to be a seamstress; any level of sewing or design is welcome, from expert stitchers to those who have never touched a sewing machine.

“It’s ultimately designed to be a fun experience,” Richardson says. “The whole point is to dabble and to create.”

The all-day course will take place on UFV’s Abbotsford campus from July 9–13. The application form is available online and should be submitted to Admissions and Records in B building at the Abbotsford campus on King Road by June 6. The cost for the week is $250 per camper.

For more information, contact Corinne Richardson at 604-864-4669 or at Corinne.Richardson@ufv.ca.