General admission deadline
17 May 2026
Final application deadline for Summer 2026 programs
In-person Program
Fashion Merchandising High School Course
A hands-on fashion business course where students study merchandising, branding and consumer behavior, then build a professional portfolio and present an original design concept.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
In-person Program
Fashion Merchandising High School Course
A hands-on fashion business course where students study merchandising, branding and consumer behavior, then build a professional portfolio and present an original design concept.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Fashion Merchandising Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Closed
Eligibility
Grades 9-12; 3.0 GPA
Age range / Year group
Ages 14-18
Location / Region
New York City
Cost
$3,298-$5,998
Duration
2 weeks
Format
In-person
Business & EconomicsDesign
Accommodation: Campus suites
Meals: Full board residential
Sessions / cadence: 9 x 3-hour classes
Main output: Professional fashion portfolio
Tutors / faculty: Fashion industry professionals
Fashion Merchandising Course summary
This is an industry-led introduction to fashion merchandising and retail marketing, covering consumer behavior, trend forecasting, buying, visual merchandising and brand strategy.
Students develop a professional portfolio and an original conceptual bag design, then present their work at Steve Madden headquarters.
It suits students who want to test fashion as a business or career field through practical projects, professional insight and course-related New York excursions.
What is Fashion Merchandising High School Course?
The Fashion Merchandising High School Course is a Summer Springboard pre-college program focused on the commercial and creative sides of fashion. At Barnard College in New York City, students study merchandising, retail marketing, consumer behavior, forecasting and brand communication with industry professionals.
The experience combines classroom instruction with market research, design work and visits to destinations such as the Fashion Institute of Technology and the fabric district. Students work toward a professional portfolio and an original conceptual bag design for a final presentation at Steve Madden headquarters.
Why Succeed highlights Fashion Merchandising Course
The course treats fashion as a business discipline, connecting creative design with consumer behavior, procurement, sales and brand strategy.
Students leave with a professional portfolio rather than completing classroom exercises alone.
Visits to FIT, the fabric district and fashion businesses turn New York into an extension of the classroom.
The final conceptual bag project gives students a concrete way to apply research, forecasting and presentation skills.
Published instruction comes from an experienced couture designer, stylist and fashion educator.
Who is Fashion Merchandising Course for?
Best for
Students curious about fashion buying, merchandising, branding or retail marketing who want practical work and direct industry exposure.
Not ideal if
You want a course centered mainly on garment construction, sewing or runway design, because the strongest emphasis is the business of fashion.
Is Fashion Merchandising Course worth it?
It can be worthwhile for a student seriously exploring fashion business because the course combines structured subject teaching, industry encounters and a portfolio-ready project. The Steve Madden design presentation creates a clear endpoint for applying research, branding and communication skills.
The main limitation is the substantial tuition and the additional application fee, especially for families considering residential attendance and travel. It is strongest as career exploration and skill-building, not as a guaranteed route into the fashion industry or a substitute for sustained independent portfolio work.
A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$3,298-$5,998; includes Residential: academic course, lodging and all meals, Residential: academic and weekend excursions, Commuter: academic course and lunch, Commuter: excursions and weekday programming, College readiness workshops and campus activities.
Accommodation
Campus suites
Meals
Full board residential
Provider details
Review the Summer Springboard provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
2 weeks; New York City.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Fashion Merchandising Course need?
Effort level
Moderate to high.
Best started
Begin four to six weeks before the next published application deadline.
Main challenge
Turning market research and trend analysis into a coherent product and brand story.
Typical preparation
Review a few fashion brands and note how each targets its customers.
Collect examples of visual merchandising, campaigns and products that interest you.
Practice explaining why a trend or product may appeal to a particular market.
Prepare application answers and required forms early enough for family review.
Useful if
You already follow fashion brands, retail trends or consumer behavior.
What do students do on Fashion Merchandising Course?
Students investigate how fashion products move from trend research and development to retail, branding and sales. The course combines teaching, applied analysis, industry visits and a final design presentation.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Study consumer behavior, forecasting, merchandising and store management.
- 2
Analyze brands, market preferences and fashion business strategies.
- 3
Explore procurement, product development, distribution and sales.
- 4
Visit FIT, the fabric district and fashion industry professionals.
- 5
Develop creative concepts and build a professional portfolio.
- 6
Create and present a conceptual Steve Madden bag design.
Fashion Merchandising Course dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Course session
5 July 2026 – 17 July 2026
Barnard College, New York City
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General admission deadline | 17 May 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Course session | 5 July 2026 – 17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Students in Grades 9-12
Students entering high school in fall may apply
Spring high school graduates may apply
Minimum 3.0 GPA or local equivalent
International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency
Applicants must meet Essential Eligibility Criteria
How much does Fashion Merchandising Course cost?
Program tuition
$3,298-$5,998 — Commuter or residential option
Funding or discounts
- Program deposit: $600 — Paid during application
- Application fee: From $99 — Mandatory and nonrefundable
- Alumni Scholarship: $500 — Latest verified 2026 award
What's included
Residential: academic course, lodging and all meals, Residential: academic and weekend excursions, Commuter: academic course and lunch, Commuter: excursions and weekday programming, College readiness workshops and campus activities
How to apply to Fashion Merchandising Course
- 1
Create an account through the official online application portal.
- 2
Confirm the verification email and complete the account details.
- 3
Choose Barnard College, the session, Fashion Merchandising and a tuition type.
- 4
Enter the student's details and complete the application with the student present.
- 5
Submit the short-answer questions and signed agreement forms.
- 6
Pay the $600 deposit and application fee to hold the place.
- 7
Complete any additional forms requested after acceptance.
What does Fashion Merchandising Course cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Consumer and trend insight
Study consumer behavior, market preferences and practical trend-forecasting strategies.
Visual merchandising
Explore visual presentation, store management and the retail customer experience.
Fashion buying
Follow procurement, development, distribution and sales across the buying lifecycle.
Brand communication
Use social media, integrated marketing and storytelling to communicate a brand.
Portfolio project
Develop a professional portfolio and an original conceptual product presentation.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Fashion Merchandising Course?
A typical day during the program.
Academic course
Classes typically run from 9am to 12pm.
Excursion or activity
Academic excursions or recreational activities begin around 1:30pm.
College readiness
College readiness or True You workshops are scheduled around 3:30pm.
Residential program
Dinner is followed by clubs, activities and a 10:30pm night check.
Who teaches on Fashion Merchandising Course?
The published instructor is Emmanuel Whitmore, a stylist, couture designer and fashion educator with more than fifteen years of experience in designer couture, luxury retail and image consulting. His teaching connects trend forecasting and consumer behavior with styling, brand storytelling and hands-on creative development.
Summer Springboard also recruits faculty and practitioners for subject expertise and engaging teaching.
Where do students stay on Fashion Merchandising Course?
Residential plan
- Campus suites: Students stay in gender-separated suites at Barnard College.
- Meals and linens: All meals and basic bed linens are included.
- Residential support: Staff live in the dorms and provide 24-hour emergency support.
- Campus security: Access cards, security patrols and nightly room checks support safety.
Non-residential plan
- Weekday attendance: Commuters attend programming from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday.
- Commuter lunch: Lunch, academic excursions and the course are included.
Residential suites may contain single or shared bedrooms, with a shared bathroom in each suite.
What happens after Fashion Merchandising Course?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Use the professional portfolio as evidence of sustained fashion interest.
Develop a clearer understanding of merchandising and retail careers.
Build experience presenting a creative concept to industry professionals.
Apply market research and branding skills to future independent projects.
Explore further study in fashion business, marketing, buying or design.
The course provides career exploration and project evidence, not a guaranteed professional outcome.
Where does Fashion Merchandising Course take place?
The course runs at Barnard College in New York City, with the campus serving as the base for classes, accommodation and student activities. Course-related visits may include the Fashion Institute of Technology, the fabric district and fashion businesses such as Steve Madden headquarters.
Summer Springboard states that Barnard College and Columbia University do not run or control the program.
Fashion Merchandising Course FAQs
The course covers consumer behavior, trend forecasting, visual merchandising, store management, fashion buying, product development, retail distribution, advertising and brand communication.
No. Creative design is part of the final project, but the central focus is fashion merchandising, retail marketing and the business processes behind brands and products.
Students develop a professional portfolio and create an original conceptual bag design inspired by Steve Madden. The published course culminates in a presentation at the brand's New York headquarters.
Yes. Published experiences include visits to the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York's fabric district and meetings with designers, buyers and product developers.
The published instructor is Emmanuel Whitmore, a stylist, couture designer and fashion educator with more than fifteen years of experience across couture, luxury retail, image consulting and teaching.
Yes. The commuter option includes lunch, the academic course, excursions and weekday programming from 9am to 5pm. Residential tuition adds lodging, all meals, evening activities and weekend excursions.
Applicants need a 3.0 GPA or local equivalent. International students must also demonstrate English proficiency through a telephone interview or an accepted test score.
Alternatives to Fashion Merchandising Course
These published Succeed options offer related routes into art, design, business or entrepreneurship for students comparing subject emphasis and setting.
Alternatives to Fashion Merchandising Course
Residential art program in St Andrews
Art
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
13-18
St Andrews
In-person
Best for
Students seeking art rather than fashion business.
Two-week practical creativity program
Design
Deadline: Not announced
Cost not listed
11-16
Wimborne
In-person
Best for
Students aged 11-16 exploring art and design.
Business and finance study in London
Business & Economics
Deadline: Not announced
From £3095
13-17
King's College London, London, UK
In-person
Best for
Students more interested in commercial strategy than fashion.
Italian business study in Milan
Entrepreneurship
Deadline: Not announced
Cost not listed
15-18
Milan
In-person
Best for
Students interested in management and international brands.
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- Travel Logistics FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- Campus Specific FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- Main FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- Terms & Conditions | Policies & Terms | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- (1) New Messages!
- (1) New Messages!
- Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- 2026 HS 2-week Fashion Merchandising V3
- Fashion Merchandising | Course | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
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What we verified (on 26 Aug 2026)
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