"Summer School" is Now for High School High-Achievers...Not Academically-Challenged

YONKERS, NY, February 06, 2011

This summer, more than 300 tweens and teens will travel to East 53rd Street and sit in a classroom at LIM - The College for the Business of Fashion. An additional 300 or more will be tuning in to live broadcasts, wearing their flip-flops, shorts, and even pajamas. They are not catching up on failed courses; rather they are using their free time to ensure they are employable in the years ahead. These 600 or so, teens/tweens are enrolled in FashionCampNYC and its virtual offerings (FashiONLINE and FashionCamp @ home), which are taught by professionals in the retail fashion industry that help kids learn how the industry works, how to land jobs, and how to network with industry influencers.
Unemployment among teens and college grads has doubled since the recession and reached a staggering 8%, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute. "We started the program four years ago simply to teach tweens/teens about the industry, but we've seen a change in the types of kids we attract and the kinds of questions they ask in class," says Gordon Josey, the Founder/Director of FashionCampNYC. Along with his wife, Fran Della Badia (Co-Director of the Camp and Senior Vice President of North America Retail for Coach), they introduced a range of distance learning options this year for kids, who cannot travel to Manhattan for the five-day intensive program. "We have seen more of an interest in the business and career side of fashion and how to land that first job," continues Josey. "Fashion and technology, blogging and traditional fashion media, merchandising, buying, branding - all are topics that rated highly among our campers."
Josey also notes, "We've found that our campers as young as 14 are willing to work hard to get jobs in fashion by seeking out our speakers as well as each other for guidance. They also spend their Wednesday nights tuning in to our evening "chats" with industry professionals rather than watching "Glee.""
With the launch of the new website, FashionCampNYC has been able to expand its distance learning offerings as well as its community, including the formation of the virtual advisory board of campers interested in retail fashion careers.
"While other kids may end up folding sweaters after college, we're confident that FashionCampNYC graduates will know where the business jobs are in fashion," says Fran Della Badia. "It's all about starting early, learning the business, and making the connections."

Fashion Camp NYC is located in the heart of midtown Manhattan at LIM - The College for the Business of Fashion. The camp offers four five-day extensive fashion programs exploring the world of fashion retail led by some of New York's top fashion industry professionals. Campers take part in lectures; create a brand, and visit retail stores and fashion exhibits around New York City. Teen campers from all over the world entering 8th through 12th grades attend the summer fashion camp to get a jumpstart on their careers in the fashion industry.