CFDA builds on 25th anniversary of CFDA Scholarship Fund

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is celebrating 25 years of support to students through the CFDA Scholarship Fund, launched in 1996 and designed to grow talent. Past scholars include notable designers such as Peter Do, Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler, and Chris Benz. First established as a merit-based scholarship at Parsons in the name of former CFDA president, the late Perry Ellis, the program was formerly spearheaded by CFDA member Monika Tilley, who passed away earlier this year. Tilley worked to create partnerships with peer institutions such as Rhode Island School of Design and Otis School of Art + Design, making regular in-person visits to meet faculty and mentor students on campuses.

The program’s mission is to foster student talent by subsidizing the rising costs of higher education tuition and school expenses, such as studio, thesis, and portfolio projects required for degree completion. To date, more than 300 CFDA Scholarships and 2.2 million dollars have been awarded. From 2015-2020, 76 percent of committee-determined scholarships have been awarded to women and 72 percent to talent of diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

CFDA expands on scholarship program

In 2007, a 2.5-million-dollar donation by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation led to the creation of the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship Award honoring the designer. Celebrating Beene who believed that “design was an unknown” to be explored, the 25,000-dollar scholarship was accompanied by a custom curriculum and Assouline’s release of “Geoffrey Beene An American Rebel” chronicling Beene’s career.

Two years later, in 2009, the CFDA Liz Claiborne Scholarship Award was established through the support of her late husband Art Ortenberg. It celebrated Claiborne’s legacy as an American sportswear designer in the context of 1970’s dress codes. Today, the 25,000-dollar scholarship prompts students to imagine how Claiborne’s strategic tuition might be used to address social issues and sustainability.

In recent years, the CFDA Scholarship Fund has further evolved with aim to support a full spectrum of specializations building upon apparel categories to also encourage submissions within industry relevant pathways such as accessories/ footwear, jewelry/ metals, textiles/ knitwear, and creative technical design. Today, the CFDA annually invites participation of a national consortium of more than 20 leading fashion design colleges and universities including San Francisco’s Academy of Art University and California College of the Arts, Savannah College of Art + Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Detroit-based College of Creative Studies’ BFA Accessories Design, and Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute. While the majority of scholarships are positioned to support undergraduate talent, there are opportunities for graduate students as well.

The program has helped connect education with industry through brand/partnership sponsored scholarships and mentorship opportunities including past collaborations with Gucci Changemakers/ Gucci North America, Target/ Teen Vogue, and the newly established CFDA x Swarovski Foundation Re:Generation Innovation Scholar Award specifically for talent with interest in sustainable strategies. It’s also the first phase of the CFDA’s lifecycle approach to helping to develop creative talent as they transition from student, graduate, emerging to professional and established CFDA member brands. In the last five years, students have had direct opportunity to present their work to more than 100 members, including AREA, Chromat, Doo-Ri Chung, Gabriela Hearst, Mara Hoffman, Maria Cornejo, and Narciso Rodriguez, alongside CFDA program alumni such as Abrima Erwiah of Studio 189, Jameel Khiry, and Eckhaus Latta.

CFDA is building on a 25th anniversary CFDA Scholarship Fund initial commitment of 250,000 – 300,000 dollars which will be awarded through up to 12 scholarships in six areas: CFDA Design Scholar Awards, Design for Justice Award, COVID-19 Relief Fund, Liz Claiborne Design for Impactful Futures Award, the Geoffrey Beene Designer Masters Scholar Award, and Suntchi Image Maker Award. All scholarships will be determined using a holistic criteria of financial need, talent, and professional potential. Recipients will be announced this fall.