Will future runways feature designs from Minnetonka High School students? The possibilities are endless for students enrolled in the school’s fashion design program. Photos: Vantage Fashion Program
Minnetonka High School weaves fashion with economics, offering students a classroom creative twist.
The next Coco Chanel, Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren just might be a Minnetonka High School (MHS) student, taking the newly offered fashion design course.
Established through the school’s Vantage program, the course combines fashion design with economics, giving students a glimpse into multiple levels of the fashion industry. Merging learning and engagement has made the project-based model an ideal environment for developing lifelong skills that students can use long after leaving the classroom. “The program puts kids in a situation where they are studying and learning at the same time [as] applying it,” says Jeff Erickson, head high school principal.
In its 13th year, Vantage is an advanced professional studies program that has become widely popular with nearly 700 of the about 3,600 MHS high school students enrolled in one of the 12 strands. Fashion design made its debut this fall based on the popularity of the school’s family and consumer science program. “We looked at how we could expand on that interest,” Erickson says. “We try to provide opportunities for all students in our school, so we’re constantly looking at what’s next.”
The two-hour fashion design course is co-taught by two instructors and welcomes guest instructors, who are working in the industry. “Kids are always asking, ‘Why are we learning this?’” Erickson says. “When guest speakers come in and show them how they use the skills being taught, the answer becomes clearer.”
And those community partnerships become key in helping with networking opportunities. Students find themselves outside of the classroom and in boardrooms, working on projects and making presentations to corporate CEOs and executive teams. “Those projects are often what students say have the biggest impact on them,” Erickson says. “They’re doing real research and must present their findings. They don’t get to be late or not do the work; they’re learning so many skills that they’ll take with them forever.”
Learning comes from harnessing individual creativity and through the experience of others. Guest instructors round out the program, bringing with them real-world views of career possibilities.
A 1-to-1 mentor model built into the program creates another avenue to establish relationships. Erickson says former Vantage students have returned to serve as mentors and guest speakers, highlighting the program’s strong connections.
To measure the academic success of the course, Erickson explains the economics component covers the same standards as other economics courses on high school transcripts. “But students get so much more out of the experience when coupling it with the fashion design strand because they’ll be able to apply their learning,” he says. “Having that hands-on, real experience is the secret sauce of the program … Vantage is changing education by bringing the outside world into the school and changes kids’ perspectives and their attitude about learning.”
So, whether it’s launching their own brand or coming up with the next catchy campaign in fashion marketing, MHS students enrolled in Vantage’s fashion design strand can leave the course with a deeper understanding of the industry and the skills needed to thrive after high school.
Minnetonka High School
Instagram: @tonkavantage
