The CFDA Scholarship Fund Selection Committee just reviewed portfolios of talented fashion students across the country. Now more than ever – given the economic impact of Covid-19 – CFDA scholarships provide essential resources for students to empower the next generation of designers.
The program would not be possible without our generous selection committee, a consortium of today’s leaders in fashion and design who lent their time and expertise to select this year’s recipients. We spoke to a few on the importance of scholarships and what the future holds for fashion students.
Doo-Ri Chung, whose DooRi was a much-loved women’s collection, now shares her knowledge with the next generation of designers as a professor at Marist College. On taking part of the Selection Committee, she said: “It has been an honor…I have served on the selection committee member both as an industry insider and now from the academic side. Teaching has allowed me to see how impactful the CFDA scholarships are to the students. Regardless if they win, these scholarships allow the students to really think about who they are as designers and how they see themselves within the fashion landscape. I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to see all the exceptional talent and problem solvers that exist. It gives me great hope for the future of fashion.”’
Jewelry designer Katrin Zimmerman, whose line Ex Ovo draws on her experiences living between Germany, Switzerland, England, and China, is renowned for its masterful simplicity and modernism.
“This year more than ever before, I feel the need to lift the students up,” Zimmermann said. “I have a snapshot of the conference room at the CFDA filled to the brim with portfolios…I still use this image to show my students so many aspects of this important process – the practical, as well as the overarching excellence and creativity that is needed to succeed in this industry. The impact that this single image has on the students is palpable. Everything that’s in their hearts and in their minds suddenly becomes tangible and consequential. So is the honor to serve on this committee. The choices we make are incredibly consequential. This year, we have a chance to really push forward important new ways of looking at this country and fashion overall, of telling stories that matter in such a true and fundamental way.”
Ralph Rucci, longtime staple of the American and International fashion scene, fashion designer, and artist, noted, “The CFDA Scholarship Program is essential to their futures. As we have seen, they are carrying huge debt from school related loans even before entering a workforce that no longer exists in the true art of fashion. It is essential that they are helped in getting started. This great assistance will help to keep American fashion alive.”
A total of $300,000 will be awarded through the CFDA Scholarship Fund to 12 scholarships in six areas. Check back in September for the announcement of this year’s finalists.
To contribute a donation to the CFDA Scholarship Funds, please visit Give Lively.
Thank you to the entire Selection Committee for their work this year:
Liz Claiborne Design for Impactful Futures Selection Committee
Alan Mak
Angela Luna
Emily Bode
Carmen Gama
Mara Hoffman
Araks Yeramyan
Geoffrey Beene Design Masters Scholar Award Selection Committee
Tom Hutton
Mara Hutton
DooRi Chung
Ralph Rucci
Wes Gordon
Yeohlee Teng
CFDA Design for Justice Scholar Award, CFDA COVID Relief Fund Selection Committee
Dao-Yi Chow
Brandon Blackwood
Jeffrey Banks
Kevan Hall
Catie Marron
Patricia Underwood
CFDA Design Scholar Award, CFDA Suntchi Image-Maker Scholar Selection Committee
Katrin Zimmermann
Ruthie Davis
Stacey Bendet
Tanya Taylor
Ji Oh
