URBN and Drexel University have launched an innovative fashion design apprenticeship program. Made to Measure: The URBN x Drexel Apprenticeship Program provides a new path to careers in fashion. Over two years, participants will follow a customized curriculum combining fashion design coursework at Drexel with mentorship and on-the-job training at URBN. After successful completion, these Design Apprentices will have the opportunity for continued employment at URBN or can pursue advanced studies in fashion design.
Thank you for your interest in the URBN x Drexel: Made to Measure Apprenticeship Program. Applications are now closed. We will update this site with future opportunities when they become available. In the meantime, learn about our first cohort of Apprentices below!
Program Overview
Who should apply to Made the Measure: The URBN x Drexel Apprenticeship Program?
The program is for individuals interested in a career in fashion design who have a demonstrated aptitude for creativity and have either not started or not completed postsecondary studies. If applicants are currently enrolled in a college or university and accepted into the program, they will be required to withdrawal from their current institution and enroll at Drexel. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent by July 1, 2023.
How much does the apprenticeship cost for participants?
There is no cost to apply. Participants will have tuition and room & board covered during the program.
Where is the program located?
Philadelphia, PA. Participants will attend classes and live in dorms on Drexel University’s main campus in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood. Work will be performed at URBN’s Home Office in the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
How to Apply
What is the application process for Made to Measure: The URBN x Drexel Apprenticeship Program?
Apply via URBN: Complete the brief application on the URBN Careers site
Attend a video Interview: Candidates who are eligible for the program will receive an email with a link to complete a HireVue Video Interview
Complete the URBN Design Project: Selected candidates will receive instructions for submitting a trend board for Fall ’23. This is an opportunity for applicants to get creative with magazine tears and fabric swatches and share their visions for what they think is going to be important to our customers
Attend the Drexel Portfolio Workshop: Candidates selected from the design project stage will attend two one-hour design portfolio workshops
Submit Design Portfolio: Portfolios will be reviewed to make final selections. Portfolios will be comprised of 8 to 12 pieces of each applicant’s strongest and most recent work. Portfolios will be examined for originality, creative problem-solving, and systematic thinking.
Apply to Drexel University: Candidates chosen after the portfolio stage will be invited to apply to Drexel University for admission into the certificate program. Candidates will follow the University’s admission process. Drexel Admissions will review each candidate and will determine eligibility for admission into the certificate program at Drexel. Learn More about Drexel Admissions >
Confirm your acceptance: Final candidates will be offered a spot into the Made to Measure cohort. Finalists will confirm their acceptance and prepare to start in July 2023.
What are the most important dates to remember when applying to Made to Measure?
January 30, 2023 – Apprenticeship Application Opens, Rolling Application Submission and Video Interviews with URBN
March 20, 2023 – Final day to Apply! Apprenticeship Application Closes
March 2023 – URBN Design Projects Assigned and Submitted, Attend Drexel Portfolio Workshops
April 2023 – Submit Design Portfolio, Invitation to Apply to Drexel
May 2023 – Notification to Finalists / Finalist Confirmation
July 2023 – Made to Measure Begins
Do I have to submit a portfolio to apply to Made to Measure?
Yes, applicants who advance beyond the URBN Design Project will attend two one-hour Portfolio Review Workshops hosted by Drexel. These skill-building workshops will provide guidance about how to create and build a design portfolio for professional review. You will then be asked to complete a design portfolio on your own with your original work. Your work will be examined for originality, creative problem-solving, and systematic thinking. Applicants will submit eight to 12 pieces of their strongest and most recent work in various media that demonstrate a balance of technique and concept. Thematic work or a series of pieces is received favorably.
Portfolio contents may include any combination of drawings, paintings, printmaking, photography, graphic design, architectural design, interior design, ceramics, sculpture, fiber art, fashion design, jewelry and metals, furniture, designed objects, animation, computer-generated images, film, video, performance art, audio recordings, websites, video games, sketchbooks, scripts, storyboards, or screenplays.
If the portfolio includes audio, film, video, animation, game design, and interactive work, it may not exceed five minutes of total running time.
Further instructions and guidance and requirements will be provided during the workshop.
When can I expect to hear an answer about my application status?
Applicants should learn about the status of their application in Spring 2023.
Working at URBN
What will I do at URBN?
Urban Outfitters, Inc (URBN) is a global portfolio of brands comprised of brands like Anthropologie, Free People, FP Movement, Nuuly, and Urban Outfitters. Participants, known as Design Apprentices, will work up to 20 hours per week, rotating across URBN brands and departments. Throughout the program, students will develop hands-on knowledge and skills to help prepare them for continued employment in the fashion industry.
Who will I work with at URBN?
URBN is home to best-in-class design teams responsible for some of the most sought-after products in the industry. Design Apprentices will work with designers from Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters, as well as URBN’s technical designers, and production & sourcing teams, among others.
Is the URBN apprenticeship paid?
Design Apprentices will be paid $20 per hour and have a maximum workload of 20 hours per week. Work schedules will vary based on academic course load at Drexel each term.
What URBN resources do I have access to as a Design Apprentice?
Design Apprentices will have access to URBN’s health and campus benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), campus gym, employee discount, and more!
Studying at Drexel University
What classes will I take at Drexel University?
Made to Measure Design Apprentices will take foundational courses, including visual studies, drawing, construction skills, pattern making, technical and surface design, textile science, visual communications, and design thinking.
Who will I work with at Drexel?
Made to Measure Design Apprentices will work with notable and highly accomplished design professors from Drexel’s Top Ranked fashion design program. In addition to studying alongside dynamic educators with extensive industry experience, participants will work with current Drexel Fashion Design students in a studio-based, boutique-style environment. Design Apprentices will also be a part of the media, arts, and design community at Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, providing exposure through a wide range of opportunities, from events, exhibitions, and guest lectures, to student-led organizations, meet-ups, and projects.
Will I earn a degree after the apprenticeship program?
The successful completion of the program will result in a certificate in Design Foundation Studies and 70 credits in coursework. Credits earned may be transferable to further studies at Drexel, or other colleges and universities where transfer credits are accepted.
I am an out-of-state applicant. Will the apprenticeship program provide housing for students?
Design Apprentices will receive housing on Drexel’s campus for the duration of the program.
What Drexel University resources do I have access to as a URBN x Drexel apprentice?
Students will have access to Drexel University campus resources such as the Counseling Center, Disability Resources, Center for Learning and Academic Success Services, the gym, and other educational and recreational facilities. The Made to Measure Design Apprentices will be in a cohort model – modeled on Drexel’s successful Westphal BRIDGE Scholars Program – that will foster an inclusive working and educational community, providing unique access to activities and programming that enhance academic achievement, build career capital, foster community, and provide holistic support for Made to Measure participants.
Will I need to purchase a computer, books, supplies, or materials as a Design Apprentice?
Participants will receive funding to support the purchase of textbooks, art supplies, and materials needed for their classes. URBN will provide laptops to each Design Apprentice.
Does the Made to Measure program offer assistance for students with disabilities?
Design Apprentices may utilize Drexel University’s Disability Resources Office to apply for academic accommodations.
Explore the Drexel Westphal School of Art & Design >