Industry executives mingled and offered plenty of good advice to students at the Fashion Scholarship Fund Awards Gala on Monday.
The Fashion Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit organization that partners with the nation’s most talented young students from diverse backgrounds and awards more than $1.4 million in scholarships annually, recognized 130 students from the class of 2024 FSF Scholars and Virgil Abloh Post- Modern Scholars of the organization. 87th Annual Gala at Glasshouse Monday in New York City.
More from WWD
Hosted by model and advocate Paloma Elsesser, the event honored Michael Burke, chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group; Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, CEO and founder of Pattern Beauty, and Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer of Nordstrom Inc., for their commitment to supporting and advancing the next generation of fashion talent and for their leadership for diversity and inclusive representation in the fashion industry.
Guests included Spike Lee, Shannon Abloh, Vera Wang, Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Christopher John Rogers, Heron Preston, Willy Chavarria, Bibhu Mohapatra, Colm Dillane, Daniella Kallmeyer, Christopher Bevans, Gigi Burris, Jonathan Cohen, Eric Emanuel, Karla Welch, Linda Fargo, Rickie de Sole, Lana Todorovich, Paul Rosengard, Constance CR White, Jaimee Marshall, Debra Malbin, Fern Mallis and Steven Kolb.
Olivia Meyer, a Kent State University senior who was introduced by Fargo senior vice president of fashion office and retail presentation, Bergdorf Goodman, took home the $25,000 Chairman’s Award. She received the award from Vera Wang, Elsesser and FSF board chairman John Tighe.
“Thank you for empowering us so we can empower others,” Meyer said in accepting her award.
Last month, the four highest-scoring Scholar Finalists competed for the Chairman’s Award by presenting in-depth case studies that propose a solution to an ESG problem to a panel of judges. Meyer’s case study focused on Sheertex, which makes single-leg pantyhose so that if the pantyhose tears or runs, you don’t have to replace the entire pair.
Meyer, a Chicago native, said she hopes to move to New York this spring after graduation.
“She is impressive in the way you need to find the right balance in the company, between presentation, dedication to an idea and focus. Olivia has that,” Fargo said after Meyer won.
Elsesser encouraged the students to meet and engage with the many industry heavyweights in the room.
“It wasn’t that long ago that I was a student at the New School. I studied psychology and literature while working four different jobs. At that moment, I’m not sure I could have predicted the path my life would take over the next almost decade. In my story, one person saw something special in me and sent an email that changed my life. That person was legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath. Look around you, scholars. This room is full of people you’ve never met and who can change your life. You never know. Don’t be shy tonight,” Elsesser said.
The students came from 75 colleges and universities across the US and demonstrated their ability to disrupt and transform the fashion industry, not only as creative students, but also as marketing and business students. All scientists were present and showed their work during the event.
Peter Arnold, executive director of the Fashion Scholarship Fund, said last December that the FSF Board of Directors ratified a three-year strategic plan charting the path forward for both the FSF and the Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholarship Fund. “None of his would be possible without the support of all of you,” he said.
Shannon Abloh, founder and chairman of the Virgil Abloh Foundation, described how postmodern emerged and what shaped “the remarkable program.”
“First…a clear understanding that talent is everywhere, but opportunity and access are not. Virgil and many of our friends growing up knew and experienced this firsthand. And while he would be the first in many industries, he was determined not to be the last,” Abloh says of her late husband, Virgil Abloh, who co-founded the Post-Modern Scholarship Fund with the FSF in 2020. promoting equality and inclusivity in the fashion industry by providing scholarships, career support and mentoring to Black students. Virgil Abloh, CEO of Off-White and artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, died in November 2021.
Second, she said it is “the belief that collaboration is community building. Virgil had a habit of saying that people often think that the mountain they want to climb is too high, but that is actually not the case. Everything is possible if you build and move together.” And third, “our vision of what is possible must always be limitless. Virgil was optimistic. He was a visionary, and when it came to the change we both wanted to see in the world, he was impatient.”
Abloh said that with the support and partnership of the Virgil Abloh Foundation, the next cohort of Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholars will increase by 100 percent, doubling their support from 30 students to 60 students with scholarships by 2025.
In presenting the award to Tracee Ellis Ross, Welch, the stylist and founder of The Period Co., said: “What can I say…Tracee Ellis Ross understands the brief. She understands the power of fashion. She understands the power of herself in fashion. Not only as a fun, joyful form and self-expression, but she understands what it means to use fashion as a tool to create real change in the world.”
Ross, an actor known for her roles in “Girlfriends” and “Black-ish,” and founder of Pattern Beauty, also had advice for the students. “I come to you tonight as a lover of fashion, of creativity and business, and as a champion of change and innovation. I invite you to begin the important work of threading the needle between the profitable and the right. They can be the same if you do your work with your heart open, and not with your eyes closed. And it helps to have genuine love for humanity. So spread your ideas and your creativity far and wide. We count on you. The world needs you and the fashion industry is waiting for you,” said Ross.
Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer of Nordstrom, was not present to receive his award. “I’m not Pete Nordstrom,” joked cousin Jamie Nordstrom, Nordstrom’s head of merchandising, who accepted on his behalf. He told the audience that he was honored to receive the award and that it is their job to offer their customers something new and authentic. “And the only way that happens is that someone somewhere comes up with a new idea. You won’t find that sitting in an office or a conference room… Every leap forward we’ve ever made as a company has been because someone was brave enough to try an idea, and they had the support around them had to carry that out. It is our responsibility to create that path to nurture that talent and give them those opportunities,” Nordstrom said.
Spike Lee, who presented the award to Burke, told the students to reach out for support. “You can’t do it alone, so remember that. Join the people with the same goals and do your thing,” Lee said.
LVMH’s Burke said he doesn’t often give acceptance speeches and usually likes to show a video, but was told the day before that was a hoax so he had to come up with a speech.
He also encouraged the students to have a support system. “I recommend that you choose what you are absolutely good at and what you are passionate about and become the best in the world. Make it your superpower. What [Abloh] that he could do that was so amazing that he did it by being nice. We’ve never met anyone who didn’t like Virgil. He crushed it with kindness. That’s Virgil,” Burke said.
Burke said it takes decades of your life before you can be successful. “I urge you to try not to be successful out of the gates. It’s virtually impossible. You need that one superpower, you need a great story, and that’s not enough. What you need is your support system. Where’s Shannon [Abloh]? Shannon is what I’m talking about. Personally, I had a great support system within the industry. I have had many mentors within the industry. My boss was a mentor, but more importantly, you all need a personal support system, in your families, people who will wait patiently for decades for the butterfly to come and fly away. Personally, it was my wife Brigitte, she gave me five sons. Those five sons and my beloved late wife were my support system. Without them I wouldn’t be here.”
Launch Gallery: Fashion Scholarship Fund Hosts 87th Awards Gala Honoring Michael Burke, Tracee Ellis Ross and Pete Nordstrom
The best of WWD