“The most neglected person in America is the Black woman,” Malcolm X once said – it’s a powerful statement that rings truer at this very moment than ever before.

In fashion, Black designers and designers of color are still severely underrepresented, specifically female ones.

Today, as part of Gucci North America’s Changemakers initiatives, the CFDA and Gucci North America launched the 2020-2021 Gucci Changemakers x CFDA Scholars by Design Award application. The $20,000 scholarship award is earmarked for one woman of color or a person who identifies as a woman entering her senior year of design school.

The second edition of the award builds upon the foundation of the inaugural Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design award, which launched last year and  provided scholarship support from entry to exit of fashion design education for two Black graduating high school seniors.

“The Gucci North America x CFDA Scholars by Design award is the foundation to developing and empowering future female leaders of color in fashion, so that their particularly vital contributions and voices can resonate, inspire, and transform the consciousness of the industry towards equitable representation at all levels,” said CaSandra Diggs, President of the CFDA. “We are very pleased to continue the partnership with Gucci Changemakers and Gucci North America, which will further the CFDA’s important work to create a fashion industry that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.”

The student award will be determined based on criteria of talent, financial need, and professional potential. Combined with mentorship, this unique scholarship will support, promote and advance student growth with aim to build future Black female designer leaders within the global fashion system.

Additionally, for the second call to action, Gucci has partnered with Satchel Lee and Chance Chamblin to inspire the next generation of designers, thinkers, and social entrepreneurs to tell their story of our shared collective humanity and the power of community to create positive change for both people and planet.

“Our vision for the Changemakers launch video underscores the premise that change does not happen in a vacuum. Even when the seed might be planted by an individual – meaningful progress only occurs when we come together as a community bound by our collective humanity. We need each other,” said Satchel Lee and Chance Chamblin..

To learn more and to apply to the second round of the Gucci North America Changemakers Programs, click here: Scholarship Program, Impact Fund, Gucci North America X CFDA Scholars by Design.  Initial applications are due by 11:59 pm EST on January 29, 2021.