Ottawa's next generation of designers is getting a head start this summer, thanks to a fashion camp that's turning local kids into bona fide style icons. The program, run by Richard Robinson Design Academy, gives 11- to 15-year-olds hands-on experience designing and creating their own clothing from scratch.
What the Camp Offers
Rather than spending the summer glued to a screen, campers are getting a crash course in the fundamentals of fashion design — sketching concepts, choosing fabrics, and learning to sew. By the end of the program, each participant walks away with a piece of clothing they conceived and built themselves, a rare opportunity for young people to see an idea go from paper to wearable reality.
CBC Ottawa's Sandra Abma visited the camp to see the process firsthand, capturing kids at various stages of their projects — some just starting to cut patterns, others already stitching together finished garments. The energy, by all accounts, is part creative studio and part clubhouse, with young designers bouncing ideas off each other as they work.
An Ottawa Institution for Aspiring Designers
Richard Robinson Design Academy has built a reputation in Ottawa as a place where fashion isn't just taught — it's practiced. The academy's youth programming reflects a broader push in the city to give kids creative, skills-based alternatives to typical summer camps. For a city that doesn't always get name-checked as a fashion capital, initiatives like this one are quietly building a pipeline of young Ottawa talent who understand construction, design, and craft, not just trends.
That local angle matters. Ottawa has a small but dedicated design and arts scene, and camps like this one give it room to grow from the ground up. Parents looking for a summer activity that goes beyond screen time are increasingly drawn to programs that produce something tangible — in this case, literally a piece of clothing their kid can wear and show off.
Why It Resonates Beyond the Classroom
There's something particularly compelling about watching an 11-year-old sketch a design one week and wear it the next. The camp isn't just about sewing technique — it's about teaching kids that they can be the ones behind the brands and styles they admire, rather than just consumers of them. For a generation raised on fast fashion and endless online trends, that kind of hands-on ownership over a finished product stands out.
Whether any of these young Ottawa designers go on to pursue fashion professionally or simply walk away with a new appreciation for craftsmanship, the camp offers a rare summer experience that blends creativity, patience, and real skill-building — right here in the capital.
Source: CBC Ottawa
