If you were to walk into a high school anywhere in America and ask, "Who wants to be the next Marc Jacobs?!," hands would fly up with no hesitation. The idea of traveling the globe, befriending celebs, dressing in high end clothing, and a reserved spot front and center at Fashion Week, would make any red blooded teen drop his or her cell phone. But, the fashion industry isn't just about homes in the Hamptons and dressing Julia Roberts for the Oscars. Like anything worthwhile, a place in the fashion spotlight is something you must work for and there are no short cuts to success.
Dawn Bell and her team are instilling this well-worn truth into the lives of teens from across the country through Fashion Camp, a summer intensive designed specifically for style minded kids looking to get their fashionable feet wet.
The unique program, opening its 2014 session on June 9, is one of the only summer camps geared towards those interested in a fashion career but not yet fully immersed in college curriculum.
Bell envisioned Fashion Camp's curriculum to be a survey course designed to give teens a full understanding of the industry, its various sectors, and what it takes to make it.
"We want to spark their passion and streamline their interests so they are ahead of the game," says Bell of the program. "We represent the real fashion industry and the real work that goes into it, but they still have fun!"
I would imagine all parents would want their kids to test drive their chosen careers prior to writing that tuition check or signing on to college loans and that benefit is not lost on Bell and her team. By the end of the program, Bell hopes campers leave with a clearer understanding of what they truly want career wise, whether that be to fully invest in fashion or run away screaming in the opposite direction.
Her approach has been an all-around success thus far and many of her graduates have gone on to intern with David Peck and Chloe Dao, while others have created their own clothing and accessory lines.
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