Urban Outfitters, Inc. and Drexel University Welcome First Cohort to the Made to Measure Apprenticeship Program

[PHILADELPHIA, PA August 1, 2023] – Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) and Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design are pleased to announce the inaugural class of the URBN x Drexel: Made to Measure Apprenticeship Program.

The six participating apprentices were selected through a rigorous application process, conducted by URBN and Drexel staff and faculty, which included a video interview, creative project, and design portfolio. URBN is covering the cost of tuition and room and board via a grant to the University, creating a net zero cost to students.

The two-year program kicks off today and consists of a customized curriculum combining fashion design coursework at Drexel with mentorship and on-the-job training at URBN. Over the course of the program, students will take courses such as Construction Skills, Fashion Drawing, and Pattern making at Drexel and work within Design and Production & Sourcing teams at URBN.

“This first group of Design Apprentices surpassed our expectations in creativity, ability, and enthusiasm,” said Matt Strode, Chief People Officer at URBN. “We are committed to breaking down traditional barriers to entry in the fashion industry, and Made to Measure is helping us realize that vision. We’re excited to see this group of incredibly talented Apprentices learn and advance at URBN and Drexel.”

Apprentices who successfully complete the program will earn 70 transferable course credits and stackable certificates from Drexel University, as well as an offer for continued employment at URBN.

Get to know the URBN x Drexel: Made to Measure Design Apprentices:

Alexandra Belmonte

Alexandra is 18 years old and just graduated from Upper Merion Area High School in King of Prussia, PA. She has deep experience in several different artistic mediums, from dance to paint, and has been passionate about expressing herself for as long as she can remember. She dove into her interest in fashion during the Covid-19 pandemic, making masks for her friends and family with leftover fabric scraps. She’s excited to channel her creative passions further during the Made to Measure program.

Donald Whorley

Donald is 18 years old and originally from Washington, DC. He began exploring his creative passions early on through drawing and sketching; Don’s participation in the Creatives Want Change summer program was a turning point in his journey, helping him grow his skills and solidify his interest in fashion design. He draws inspiration from his cultural heritage as a Haitian-American, his identity as a native Washingtonian, and the collective Black diaspora to hone his creative point of view. Don is the first person in his family to attend college and hopes to follow in the footsteps of his fashion icon, Daniel “Dapper Dan” Day.

Eden Miller 

17-year-old Eden has a wide variety of creative practices, including sewing, painting, and music. She has a deep passion for mixed media artwork and feels at home at thrift stores, giving new life to old products. Ultimately, she hopes she can give people joy through her fashion designs. After completing some coursework in Fashion History at Saddleback Junior College in Mission Viejo, CA, Eden can’t wait to come to Philadelphia to begin her journey with Drexel and URBN.

Layla Ortiz  

Layla, 18, comes to Drexel and URBN from the Urban Outfitters store in Valencia, CA, where she served as a Store Associate. Layla loves “transforming something plain and unoriginal into something rare and creative,” which she does regularly – turning oversized jeans into on-trend shorts or modifying a dress to make it a one-of-a-kind top. Working at Urban Outfitters has helped her expand her personal style and has given her the confidence to pursue her dream of a career in fashion.

Luke Wallace 

Luke is an 18-year-old Brooklyn native. His memories from childhood all feature fashion – like giving his mother outfit tips on her way out the door to spending the past 6 years designing and making his own clothing. Luke started the very first clothing club at Brooklyn Tech High School and spends almost all his free time learning about the industry. He shares, “I can’t imagine a better next step for me than the Made to Measure program.”

Merter Sezer

Merter, 17, grew up in Maryland and attended Wilde Lake High School. He is a proud second-generation American and enrolling in the Made to Measure program is living his dream. Merter has always loved creativity and had a knack for entrepreneurship, creating his own fashion brand during his high school years. He is overjoyed to get to work with one of his favorite brands – Urban Outfitters.