Urban Outfitters Releases Exclusive HBCU Capsule Collections Created by the UO Summer Class of 2022

(October 17, 2023) Urban Outfitters announces the launch of the UO Summer Class 2022 Capsule Collections, an exclusive apparel and accessories assortment crafted by 5 interns from the URBN Summer Class Program: a 10-week design internship program for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). Building on the success of the inaugural UO Summer Class '21 internship program and corresponding collection, the 2022 capsule was designed in collaboration with Morehouse College, Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Hampton University, providing students from these institutions with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their creative talent and design prowess. The collections will be available online and in select stores on October 17th, with styles also available in select campus bookstores.

Internship Experience and Collection Design

During the course of their internship, the students worked closely with the UO Buying and Design Teams, blending their creativity with industry expertise to create a collection that captures the essence of each participating institution. The result is a captivating array of designs, including outerwear, graphic tees, loungewear, and on-campus accessories such as hats, scarves, and water bottles, all infused with vibrant school colors, mascots, and mottos that not only call attention to the unique talents of these budding designers but celebrates the rich cultural heritage, traditions, and resilience of their HBCU’s.

Campaign Creative

The five students returned to the UO company headquarters in Philadelphia this fall to see their designs turned into reality, modeling their own creations for campaign assets that will live across the UO site and social media channels.

About the UO Summer Class of 2022 interns and their designs:

Sade Holt, Hampton University.

Sade studied business management and leadership at Hampton University in Virginia. Originally from Greensboro, NC, she interned with the Urban Outfitters Women’s Buying Team during the summer of 2022 designing a 6-piece collection consisting of denim jackets, denim pants, a long and short sleeve graphic tee, scarf and stainless steel corkscrew water bottle adorned with Hampton’s Pirate Mascot, founding year, and university motto “The Standard of Excellence.”

Bishr Burns, Morehouse College.

Hailing from Brodnax, Virginia, Bishr studies biology at Morehouse College and joined the Urban Outfitter’s Women’s Buying Team during the internship. Bishr’s 6-piece collection consists of a trucker hat, flannel shirt, fleece short, graphic tee, and satin bomber jacket are an ode to "Mother Morehouse" featuring the University mascot, logo, founding year, and more.

Mike Tambashe, North Carolina Central University.

Mike, a designer and artist by nature, is interested in studying parallels between market research and customer behavior along with storytelling, surface design and textile manufacturing. Mike interned with the Urban Outfitters Men’s Buying Team, creating a 6-piece collection featuring corduroy hats with satin stitched NCCU embroidery, in addition to a carpenter pant, plaid varsity jacket, and scarf with NCCU Eagle mascot detailing. A Graphic tee and short sleeve button front shirt celebrating the university's slogan complete the collection.

Faith Reeves, Tennessee State University.

Faith, a Springfield, Tennessee native graduated from Tennessee State University in 2022 with a bachelor’s in Fashion and Communications. During the internship, she worked closely with the UO Men’s Buying Team to design a 5-piece assortment featuring a champion branded long-sleeve tee, denim pant with embroidery fabrication, denim trucker jacket, and short sleeve graphic tee.

Mya Harris, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Mya, a senior majoring in Fashion Merchandising and Design, worked alongside the UO Women’s Structured Design Team during her time as an intern. Crafting a 6-piece collection consisting of flannel shirt, satin jacket, scarf, trucker hat and graphic tee, her designs provide a glimpse into “Aggie Land” featuring the University's rich colors, iconic mascot and logo.

Donation and Additional Programming

Proceeds from the UO Summer Class 2022 Capsule Collections support a donation of $55,000 to participating schools. Select styles from the collection will be available in the following campus bookstores: Morehouse College, Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

– About the UO Summer Class Internship Program In 2021 and 2022, Urban Outfitters piloted a 10-week paid internship and mentorship program for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) recognized for their academic excellence and creative prowess. Spanning production, technical design, and sourcing, the Summer Class program has served as a deep dive in fashion for these highly qualified students. Each Summer Class internship culminated in a special capsule collection sold at Urban Outfitters brand retail locations and ecommerce sites.