The Fashion Scholarship Fund and Lingua Franca hosted a cocktail party Wednesday night at the fashion brand’s West Village headquarters, bringing together industry figures and scholarship alumni.
The night brought together the likes of Sergio Hudson, Daniella Kallmeyer, Michelle Ochs, Beverly Nguyen and others to celebrate the fund’s achievements and learn more about upcoming efforts.
The evening’s remarks were led by FSF executive director Peter Arnold and Fairchild Media Group chief executive officer Amanda Smith, who spoke about the impact of the scholarship fund and how it will grow into the new year.
“A very important part of our mission is the partnership we had with Virgil Abloh,” Arnold said. “Four years ago, Virgil came to us and said, ‘I would like to start with you a program that has a pathway for Black talent into the industry,’ so we created the Virgil Abloh ‘Post Modern’ scholarship fund. We’re now at 100 scholars who have been recipients and there will be 60 more. Next week is the third anniversary of Virgil’s passing and for me personally and I know everyone from the FSF, this is a legacy, but our responsibility that we carry forward. I’m very grateful to him for coming to us and starting it with us and I’m so pleased and proud to take that forward for the talent that Virgil wanted us to support.”
Sergio Hudson and Michelle Ochs
Quadir Moore/BFA.com
Arnold stated that next year’s cohort of winners is increasing to 160 students from a pool of roughly 1,700 applicants. He stated the scholarship fund is awarding $1.9 million in aid to students from 120 universities. Of the universities, 16 are historically Black colleges and universities and six are Hispanic serving institutions.
“I’m impressed by the students that I’ve met at the award events, gala and through our summer series,” Smith said. “I think they are incredibly talented, they’re creative and their commitment is astounding. I also find that they’re incredible communicators and networkers beyond any other skill that I can see. They’re really dedicated to the craft and the future and I find that impressive.”
Arnold and Smith were joined by Clay Lute and Olivia Meyer, who were both recipients of the Fashion Scholarship Fund’s chairman’s award. Both spoke about the impact the scholarship fund has had on their careers and how it helps support underrepresented students.
“It’s so nice to know there is an organization out there that supports people who look like me, that’s connected to other people like me because all of you have been young growing up in this industry,” Lute said. “It can be daunting and to be connected to people who are going through it with you and have gone through it already is life-changing. The future of the boardroom will be decided by who has access to the door. I’m so thankful that FSF gave me that access and I believe in this future of young talent. They’re waiting and they’re ready for that chance. FSF gave me that chance. They’ve been pushing me all this way.”
Meyer, who won this year’s chairman’s award for her idea of creating single-leg tights to address environmental issues and accessibility, told the crowd that through the support of the FSF, her idea is now patent pending in the U.S.
“The sheer ability to have such an open-ended idea given to me and try to figure out what I can do and propose something and make a meaningful change in the world in something that’s tangible and real is huge,” Meyer said. “That’s something I don’t think is possible for so many students in the industry who want to get into this industry. I’m grateful to the FSF for allowing these types of opportunities and making it a dream come true. When you think of the FSF and you think of everyone in this room and the other FSF alumni and friends, I think something that I’m so grateful for is to be surrounded by people who are interested in innovating the future and coming up with new ideas and composing solutions. That truly is the FSF.”