Kay Walters had something in mind beyond clothes when she began Fairfax High School Fashion Marketing's Fashion Camp 10 years ago. Walters wanted to provide students with information about the fashion industry, retail vendors and fashion show production. She also included etiquette lessons during lunch time to emphasize manners and graciousness. But perhaps the greatest accomplishment in the week-long camp is to help the campers find confidence in themselves.
"These experiences translate into confidence for both the campers and the counselors and that is the true beauty of fashion camp," said Walters. "That is what I hope the audience sees on the fashion show runway."
Over 100 1-9th grade girls throughout the county (the camp is open to boys as well) attended "Fashion Fun Fair" at Fairfax High School earlier this month. Each day, the girls created outfits, designed props, made crafts, practiced etiquette at lunch and made new friends. The campers chose and designed clothes that were to reflect their personality and style.
The counselors are current and former FCPS high school students that completed two years of fashion marketing and applied earlier this spring to work with the younger students. Fashion camp allows the counselors to share their fashion marketing interest and knowledge and work with children. Many of the counselors will study fashion merchandising beyond high school.
For counselors Allie Jensen and Eliana Nash, the draw to be counselors was the perfect mix of working with children and teaching fashion marketing. This week was Jensen's second time as a counselor at Fashion Camp. Jensen, a rising freshman at the University of Virginia, wanted the girls to know that there are different ways to be beautiful. "Sometimes they see girls on TV and want to be like them, but we want to teach the campers to find their own style and gain confidence in themselves," said Jensen.
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Nash, a senior at South County High School agrees. "Confidence is key for young girls," she said. For Nash, the favorite part of the week was helping the girls prepare for the fashion show and designing their own clothes. Jensen enjoyed getting to know her group of 12 campers, who ranged from 7-9 years old. "The girls worked hard and were a lot of fun this week. We had a blast." Jensen told the parents.
With a "Runway on the Midway" themed runway show on the last day, the students showed two outfits to a full house at FHS auditorium. Sponsored from stores like Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Lord & Taylor, Macy's and JC Penny, counselors and campers chose one outfit to reflect their personality and interests. The other was an original “re-design” the girls worked on all week using an outfit they brought from home. The campers also worked on props and the displays for the show, along with choosing music as a group.
At the end of the camp, the girls said goodbye to counselors and new friends, brought home their redesigned outfit and promised to return next year.
