Introducing the URBN Summer Class of 2022

(June 16, 2022) On June 6th, URBN launched its second Summer Class – a 10-week design and buying internship intensive for eight select students recognized for their academic excellence. The program works in close collaboration with six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Morehouse College, Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Clark Atlanta University, and Hampton University. This year’s Summer Class follows the success of the inaugural Urban Outfitters (UO) Summer Class ’21 internship program, from which parent company URBN is thrilled to continue the initiative, expanding the program to additional HBCUs and URBN brands.

The eight participating students were nominated to the URBN Summer Class ’22 internship program by their schools in acknowledgment of their academic achievements. The paid internship intensive will give students comprehensive mentoring and design experience at the URBN headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Through shadowing, one-on-one mentorship with leaders from across the company, and learning sessions in production, technical design, and sourcing, the students will gain valuable insights to kick off their creative careers.

During the course of the internship, the selected students will work with the URBN Buying and Design Teams to design a capsule collection for Urban Renewal — Urban Outfitters’ division of vintage, upcycled, and reworked pieces — and FP Movement, Free People’s activewear division. The collections will be available for purchase exclusively at www.urbanoutfitters.com and www.freepeople.com and will include original designs from the students along with URBN design leads. The collection will feature uniquely designed collegiate merchandise that will be officially licensed through CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate licensing company. The students will also create designs for a long sleeve t-shirts and shorts from Champion® Athleticwear, a longtime supporter of HBCU merchandise programs.

Through the URBN Summer Class ’22 internship program, URBN will support the professional development of the HBCU students and their futures as they prepare to enter the job market. Following graduation, previous interns have been hired by the URBN workforce in full-time positions, bolstering URBN’s commitment to fostering the career advancement of the students. While the URBN Summer Class ’22 program will conclude at the end of August, the students’ URBN mentors look forward to continuing to provide advice and support to their mentees as they prepare to embark upon their professional careers.

Get to know the incoming URBN Summer Class ’22 students:

Sade Holt, Hampton University
Sade is a rising senior majoring in business management and minoring in leadership studies. Originally from Greensboro, NC, she will intern with the Urban Outfitters Women’s buying team this summer.

Bishr Burns, Morehouse College
Hailing from Brodnax, Virginia, Bishr majors in software engineering at Morehouse College and will join the Urban Outfitter’s Men’s Buying Team.

Mya Harris, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Mya, a rising junior majoring in fashion merchandising and design, joins the UO Women’s Structured Design Team as an intern this summer.

Mike Tambashe, North Carolina Central University
Mike, an aspiring designer, is interested in studying parallels between market research and customer behavior along with storytelling, surface design and textile manufacturing. Mike will intern with the Urban Outfitters Men’s Buying Team.

Faith Reeves, Tennessee State University
Faith, a Springfield, Tennessee native is a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising. This summer, she will work closely with the UO Women’s Intimates and Lounge Wear Team.

Treasure Wray, Clark Atlanta University
Treasure is a junior at CAU majoring in art history and fashion design. She is currently a CAU ambassador and a yearly competitor in CAU’s styling competition who will work with the Free People Movement Buying Team.

William Holder, Clark Atlanta University
William is a fashion merchandising major who will join the Free People Merchandising Team and looks forward to turning his passion for fashion into a career.

Samya Gilliam-Frazier, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Samya, a senior born and raised in North Carolina, always knew she wanted to study fashion. This summer she will work side by side with the Free People Design Team.

For more information about the URBN Summer Class internship program visit, www.urbanoutfitters.com or www.freepeople.com.