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Registration for our 2024 Summer Experiences has now opened! Book now to secure your place.

Registration for our 2024 Summer Experiences has now opened! Book now to secure your place.

The Young Fashion Designer Summer Experience

InvestIN Education
InvestIN Education

The Young Fashion Designer Summer Experience

Overview

The Young Fashion Designer Summer Experience gives students aged 15-18 a fully immersive experience of life as a fashion designer in London.

Over the course of two weeks, students will have some of the most exclusive experiences of fashion design that one can imagine: build your own fashion brand, style and shoot a look book and present your final collection at a London Fashion Week venue.

Join us for a life-changing experience that will set you up for a future as a successful fashion designer.

Read all highights

Immersive Fashion Experiences:
  • Conduct your very own fashion show and receive invaluable feedback from a panel of judges on the front row
  • Create your own garment, exploring techniques in pattern cutting, draping and sewing
  • Build your own sustainable fashion brand with expert guidance through every stage of the design process
  • Style and shoot your very own look book at a professional London studio
  • Be coached through the immersive experiences with professionals from world-renowned studios specialising in designing, buying and merchandising, marketing, prototyping and more
  • Uncover the world of costume design, working closely with actors and designers to conceptualize ideas for an exclusive theatre performance
  • Try your hand at a range of textile techniques, uncovering the many pathways available to you as a designer
  • Combine your creations into a fashion-school-ready portfolio, and receive 1 on 1 coaching around your future career prospects
  • Attend a private networking event with those in the most desirable jobs in fashion: designers, buyers, merchandisers, fashion marketing experts and more
     
Meet Senior Fashion Designers:
  • Be coached through the immersive experiences with professionals from world-renowned firms specialising in designing, buying and merchandising, marketing, prototyping and more
  • Private networking sessions with these professionals, who can become vital connections for your future career
     
Career Coaching:
  • Receive training on how to land the most desirable jobs in fashion design
  • Advice on subject choices, university selection, work experience, extra-curricular activities and more
Competitive Advantage In Your University Applications:
  • Attending the Experience demonstrates that you have gained skills which are highly-valued by top universities
  • Complete the online assessment after the programme and receive a personalised certificate to include in your university applications
  • Personalised industry reference letter from fashion designers confirming what you have achieved on the programme
World-Class Universities And World-Class People:
  • Experience one of the best universities on the planet: University College London (UCL).
  • Meet talented and ambitious students from around the world who fly in for the Summer Experience, creating an invaluable lifetime network
     
Design Your Own Summer Experience:

⦁    Choose from one of the following options:

1.    First Week Only (taster experience); or
2.    Two-Week Experience (the full programme); or
3.    Two-Week Premium Experience (the ultimate package with both weeks plus enhanced benefits)

Accommodation
You can choose either residential or non-residential. The accommodation is at UCL student halls in central London. We provide residential students with meals, guardianship and fun activities on evenings and weekends. Airport transfers are also available at checkout.

Immersive Experiences Week 1

The Design Process

  • Learn where designers find inspiration and study the origins of iconic collections
  • Get step-by-step guidance on the design process from a professional fashion designer
  • Discover how designers bring their visions to life, from drawing board to mannequin
  • Create your own moodboard and concept to form the basis of your collection

Become the Fashion Designer

  • Private tour of the fashion collection in the V&A museum and sketch the primary research that will form the beginnings of your collection
  • Understand crucial design theory that designers use when creating: trend forecasting, cohesion and more
  • Learn to draw your own croquis to form the basis of your future sketches
  • Produce initial silhouettes in a guided workshop, then transform these into final designs in a life drawing workshop with a top artist and model
     

The Basics of Making

  • Workshops in pattern cutting, draping and sewing
  • Create your own bodice block, tailored to your specifications, that can form the template for your own custom clothing creations
  • Drape an avant-garde garment using couture techniques
  • Learn the basics of sewing in a workshop tailored to your ability level

Create Your Garment

  • Work to a given budget, purchasing the clothing that will form the base of your upcycled look
  • Work with designers, tailors and pattern cutters to transform your pieces into an entirely new, custom outfit
  • Tailor your work to your ability level with experts to guide you every step of the way
     

Building Your Portfolio

  • Combine all your work into final boards, exploring concept, development and final pieces
  • Receive guided feedback by industry experts, and understand exactly what universities, internships and jobs look for in a portfolio
  • Ask your burning questions: take part in a panel Q&A with top designers

This Summer Experience is for students aged 15-18 and you do not require any prior knowledge to attend.

The start date is the 29th July.  You can choose to attend for either ‘First Week Only’, ‘Two Weeks’ or our ‘Two Week Premium’ package. You can also choose residential or non-residential. Pricing and details are set out below.

Click “Register Now” to book your place. You can either pay in full now or reserve your place with a £950 non-refundable deposit.

London 1 week London 2-weeks London Premium
Length First week only 2-weeks full programme 2-weeks Premium
Discover the design process with professional fashion designers. Create your own toile, upcycle a sustainable garment, create a mood board, sketch your pieces, and transform them into your fashion portfolio.
Shoot a look book and visit the HQ of a top fashion publication. Discover buying, merchandising and marketing; create your sustainable brand concept, and pitch your idea to industry professionals. Plan and host your very own fashion show at a top Fashion Week venue, receiving feedback on your designs from expert judges.
Private networking session with top fashion designers
Industry reference letter: personalised letter from fashion designers confirming what you’ve achieved on the programme
Graduation ceremony for completion of the full programme
Assessment centre, LinkedIn profile building & CV writing workshops, psychometric profile testing
Training on how to succeed from politicians and Olympic athletes
Gala dinner on a boat with top professionals
Excursions to top London sites and premium activities including a West End theatre show
Summer Experience fee £1950 £2950 £3950
Optional fee for accommodation with meals, guardianship and evening & weekend activities included Available for an additional
£1200
Available for an additional
£2600
Available for an additional
£2600
Optional fee for London airport transfers (return) Available for an additional
£300
Available for an additional
£300
Available for an additional
£300

Choose a location below:

In Person

Available dates:

  • 29th July 2024

Venues:

  • The programme is based at UCL and the surrounding University of London campus. Certain days take place in other key industry locations in London.

Accommodation location:

Please find below some of our most frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions you'll be able to find our full FAQ list here and you are also welcome to reach out to us at info@investin.org and we'll be happy to help!

When is the deadline for registering for an experience?
Places on our programmes are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis so we will close registration as soon as we reach capacity, because of this we would always recommend booking as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss the opportunity to attend.
Do I get a certificate?
Upon completion of the programme you will receive a bespoke certificate to include in all of your future applications. This will help you stand out from the crowd and show your passion for your chosen career. Letters of attendance are also available upon request at info@investin.org.
Who are your safeguarding team?
On each Summer Experience, we have safeguarding team members on-site 24/7 to promote the safeguarding and pastoral welfare of our students. Our team are security-vetted (enhanced DBS-checked) professionals who work in education full time and our team is made up of Academic Professionals / LSA, Safeguarding Officers, Nursing Professionals, and Mental Health Practitioners. Students will therefore always be able to easily contact a guardian, should they need any support.
What is included in the accommodation package?
You can choose to add our accommodation package to your booking where you will be allocated to the University of London's Garden Halls, College Hall, or International Hall. Here, you will enjoy your own private room, 3 meals a day, and 24/7 guardianship. There are also lots of communal areas such as a games room and cinema room where you will be able to socialise with other students. Our safeguarding team will also put on evening activities such as trivia night, games night, and sports evenings. You will be able to arrive at the accommodation the day before the programme starts and checkout will be the day after the programme comes to an end.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, payment plans are available. Click on 'Register Now', and you will see the option to either pay in full or reserve your place with a £950 non-refundable deposit. Once your deposit is paid, you will receive another email detailing the information for your second instalment. Please feel free to contact info@investin.org if you would like any further assistance.
Will there be any opportunities for rest days?
Rest days take place on the weekends.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY ABOUT US

Covid-19

There are no travel restrictions in place in order to enter the UK; you are not required to test or to provide proof of vaccination status, so you can book your programme place with confidence.

 

Support

If you are trying to register and the registration box is not appearing it is likely because of firewall restrictions on your desktop device.

You may wish to try on your mobile device instead. Alternatively, please email info@investin.org with details of the programme you want to register for. We will reserve your place immediately and send you a link to pay by card online.