[1] The school was founded and directed by Ethel Traphagen Leigh (1883–1963) with a focus on the foundational concepts of the American design movement.

[1] Traphagen School encouraged student experimentation with materials and construction techniques.

[2] One of the educational tenets of the Traphagen School of Fashion was a "design-by-adaptation" method, which included historical research.

[2] The school had a large collection of books and historic fashion plates, which was a source of inspiration for student work.

[2] In March 2019, the Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) hosted a survey exhibition of the school, The Traphagen School: Fostering American Fashion.