Fashion Scholarship Fund

Congrats to 2024 Virgil Abloh™️ "Post-Modern" Scholar Cierra Calmeise on an amazing Fall 2024 internship with Christopher John Rogers! Check out our recap of her experience here: https://lnkd.in/dZkfRvqB

Hello 2025! As we kick off the New Year, we're excited to share a number of new faces now on the team here at FSF. Click through to meet them all, and click here: https://lnkd.in/e_SR9YaF to learn more about the work we do. From all of us at FSF, Happy New Year!

To officially wrap up 2024, a a note from FSF Executive Director Peter Arnold:⁣ "As the New Year approaches and we prepare to welcome 160 new FSF Scholars—including an expanded Class of 60 Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholars—I’m struck by how far we’ve come in just five years. In 2020, we faced the challenges of supporting our Scholars and Alumni through college and career disruptions caused by the pandemic. Yet, 2020 also marked a pivotal moment for FSF: the creation of the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, a legacy initiated by Virgil Abloh to champion equity in the fashion industry. Now, as we close 2024, we celebrate a transformational year—one that reaffirmed our commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation. Guided by our vision, mission, and new strategic plan, we’ve deepened FSF’s impact on talented young adults aspiring to careers in fashion, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. As we prepare to announce the names of the 2025 Scholars in the coming weeks, we hope you’ll join us in celebrating their achievements and potential. Together, we’re shaping the future of fashion by investing in its next generation of leaders." –Peter Arnold On behalf of Peter and all of us at FSF, Happy New Year!

As we begin to say goodbye to 2024, a look back at our most-liked posts of the year! Swipe through for a quick walk down memory lane, and know how grateful we are of all of our followers' support of our work and our Scholars. Thank you! 🏆

Presenting #FSFWrapped 2024! As we finish up an extraordinary year, a look back at some of the numbers we're most proud of. We couldn't have done it without the 100+ brands, retailers, and organizations that support our work. Thank you!

Last week, Peter Arnold, FSF Executive Director, and Farai Simoyi, Head of the Virgil Abloh™ "Post-Modern" Scholarship Fund & Equity, were joined in conversation by Jennifer Vecchio, Chief Merchandising Officer, Burlington Stores and past FSF Board President, to discuss the power of mentorship, work that creates real impact, building a personal brand, and more essential keys to success in our industry. Thank you to Mecca Mitchell, SVP of Leadership & Organizational Development, DEI, and Community Impact, Burlington Stores and FSF Board member, for moderating our talk, and to our many partners at Burlington for the continued support of our work.

Congratulations to 2024 Virgil Abloh™️ "Post-Modern" Scholar Gabrielle Moore of Cornell University for being included in the Cornell Fashion Collective Fall Show, titled “Circus.” "For this look, I explored circus aesthetics and androgyny, blending masculine and feminine elements with my brand’s CITYW3AR's signature zippers. Inspired by Christian Dior Couture ’90s and 2000s collections, this piece offers a bold preview of my upcoming spring collection, celebrating duality and transformation, with a hint of theatrical whimsy inspired by Dior's Spring/Summer 2002 couture show." –Gabrielle Moore Bravo, Gabrielle, and thanks for sharing your work with us! To see more, visit her on Instagram at https://lnkd.in/eixybSiQ.

Congratulations to our FSF and Virgil Abloh™️ “Post-Modern” Scholars graduating this semester! We’re so proud of these talented students for completing their undergraduate studies, and can’t wait to see what’s next. Bravo! 🏆

Today's #FSFInternSpotlight: 2024 Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholar Cierra Calmeise of the University of Cincinnati, who spent the fall semester interning with designer Christopher John Rogers! "As a production and development intern at Christopher John Rogers, it’s been wonderful to collaborate with the design team during the concept and post-production process! I have learned so much in this role having gained a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into maintaining a luxury brand. My favorite part has been everything! Especially helping sew prototypes for the newest collection. I am eternally grateful for the team at CJR and can’t wait to apply my newfound knowledge in the future." –Cierra Calmeise Click here to see more: https://lnkd.in/dZkfRvqB. Thanks for sharing with us, Cierra!

Today's #FSFAlumniSpotlight: 2021 Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholar Arion Wheeler, a 2021 graduate from Columbia College Chicago! Arion is now a member of the Visual Merchandising team at the Macy's Perimeter Mall location in Atlanta, Georgia, where she works to create and execute visual merchandising concepts and activations throughout the store. She's also a member of the Macy's Style Crew ambassador program, meaning that she creates fashion and beauty content for the brand on her Instagram. Swipe to hear more from her, and click here for the full Q&A: https://lnkd.in/dvTExvFe Thank you for sharing with us, Arion!