High School Program

About The Program

Backstory

Imagine being able to spend one morning or afternoon each week of high school engaged in activities you are passionate about!

I have shared with people my entire life that the only reason I showed up at school was for the art classes...the thing I enjoyed doing the most! I was a fairly good student in all my other classes (with the exception of math); however, I always excelled in my art classes and that made me feel good about myself!

The Stitch Institute was a culmination of my years as a designer and educator. Since 2009, we have operated the Stitch Institute's Emerging Designer Series program for adults, as well as our Summer Camp program - Fashioning Their Future. This new venture gives me a full circle moment as we offer a program for teenagers who, like me, thrive on being able to engage in their creativity as a part of their academics.

~ Marva G. Ballard, Founder

How it works

We now offer the Emerging Designer Series of classes as an extra-curricular activity for high school students who are homeschooled and/or who attend a virtual school where they have the freedom to spend one four hour block of time per week in our fashion lab.

In addition to their time in the fashion lab, students are provided with supplemental content to enhance their study in their core academics on other days of the week.

Enrollment is limited to ten students per class. Currently, we only have openings for four classes.

Fashion-Related Supplemental content & Activities

Science

We offer supplemental course content that gives students a chance to learn the fundamentals of plant and animal science. Course content specifically focuses on plant and animal production for use as textiles in the fashion industry. Aside from natural textiles, students look at the science behind the production of synthetic textiles as well, including textiles made from plastic bottles and other recycled items.

Mathematics

Math is behind every article of clothing, from the drafting of patterns to garment fit to sales. Through supplemental fashion content related to math, students get applied learning opportunities in Geometry, fractions and decimals, proportions and ratios, and the math used in business.

English / Language Arts

One of the activities of the program is the publication of a fashion E-Zine. Students are responsible for writing all articles, including conducting the necessary research and interviews, and doing all needed fashion and product photography. This gives them opportunities to strengthen their writing skills.

Social Studies

To enhance a curriculum in Social Studies, we provide supplemental content that looks at old cultures, and how they shape the present fashion industry. They also get to study the impact the fashion industry has on the environment. They learn laws related to the industry, as well as how fashion operates on a global scale with a focus on issues related to importing, such as tariffs, child labor, etc.

Technology

The fashion industry runs on technology from production to marketing and sales. Students get supplemental lessons on computer assisted design (C.A.D.), on new fitting technologies, and how A.I. is now being used in the industry.

ART

Students have many opportunities for applied learning in art as they design textiles, do fashion drawings and illustrations. They also get to look at art as depicted in the textiles and fashions of other cultures with a focus on colors and mediums used as well as production methods.

The Stitch Institute Program for Grades 9-12