NJ Prison Launches Fashion Design Training For Women, Youth Coaching Program

It’s “sew far, sew good” for a new fashion design program for incarcerated women at a state prison in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) recently announced that it is partnering with Pratt Institute to launch a fashion design and workforce development program at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility.

The program is one of the first of its kind in the United States, joining similar international efforts in Milan and London.

The Design Studio curriculum – developed by faculty from Pratt’s Fashion program – provides incarcerated women with a structured, professional-level course in fashion design, apparel construction, digital design and business planning.

The Edna Mahan Correctional Facility Design Studio has been equipped to replicate a professional design environment. Over the course of 10 months, participants complete 40 weeks of structured instruction led by Pratt faculty, supported by NJDOC staff.

The curriculum is comprehensive. Students begin with sketching, garment fitting and mood boards, then progress through draping, patternmaking and garment construction. Training then advances into digital design, where students gain proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and other professional tools.

Meanwhile, participants create prototypes, prepare technical packs and refine designs through fittings. Coursework extends into branding, niche markets, supply chains and ethical sourcing, before culminating in production readiness.

At the conclusion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion from Pratt Institute’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Beyond the classroom, participants gain experience in collaboration, accountability, and problem-solving habits that transfer directly into the workplace, NJDOC spokespeople said.

“This program represents a milestone in correctional education,” NJDOC Commissioner Victoria Kuhn said.

“This collaboration will prepare participants for release by providing them with both state-of-the-art technical skills and the discipline, professionalism, and confidence needed to succeed,” Kuhn said.

State officials said the new design studio is the culmination of four years of work with the NJDOC’s DEPTCOR and Division of Women’s Services. DEPTCOR has provided vocational training to New Jersey’s incarcerated population since 1918, and the Division of Women’s Services manages a variety of gender-specific mental health, educational and rehabilitative services.

LONG-TERM COACHING FOR YOUTH

The New Jersey Department of Corrections also recently announced that it is joining forces with nonprofit Give Something Back to support youth affected by incarceration.

The NJDOC and Give Back have entered into a memorandum of understanding to deliver long-term coaching and academic support to youth affected by parental incarceration and other significant childhood adversity.

Under the agreement, Give Back will provide long-term coaching and supportive services to youth with high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), including the children of incarcerated women at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. Each young person builds a personal success plan and receives consistent one-on-one support throughout their journey. Services include academic guidance, college and career coaching, trauma-informed mentoring, and access to basic needs like food and transportation.

According to NJDOC spokespeople, the partnership is grounded in a shared belief that “investing in young people early on helps break the cycles of incarceration and trauma and promotes long-term economic stability and strengthens communities.”

• See Related: Dozens Of 'Freedom Libraries' Built At 2 State Prisons In New Jersey

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