Minnetonka High School expands 'Vantage fashion design' course with real-world industry focus

Minnetonka High School is offering students an immersive fashion design course through its Vantage professional studies program, combining creative design with economics and real-world industry engagement. The course debuted this fall as part of the school’s broader career-focused Vantage curriculum.

Designed to give students a practical introduction to the fashion industry, the program blends classroom learning with hands-on projects, guest speakers from the fashion sector and community partnerships that bring students into boardrooms and other professional settings. Students develop research skills, present findings to executives and explore how design principles work in real business contexts.

Nearly 700 students participate in one of Vantage’s 12 strands, and the new fashion design course builds on Minnetonka’s established Family & Consumer Science offerings by giving learners both creative and economic perspectives on fashion. A one-to-one mentor model also connects students with industry professionals and alumni, broadening networking and career pathways.

Educators say the program aims to equip students with practical skills they can apply beyond school—whether they pursue fashion design, marketing, entrepreneurship or other creative industries.