5 Popular Fashion Scholarships

By Sarah Christine Davis on September 13, 2015

It goes without saying that college is expensive without scholarships.

According to College Board, the average tuition of public four year college for in-state students runs on average upwards of $9,000 per year. Want to receive your education at a private institution? That’ll cost you an average of over $30,000 per year.

With such an unstable and unpredictable economy and job market these days, it’s hard to feel okay with spending that much money.

Fortunately for fashion and retail students, people will always need to buy clothing and textiles. Companiesandmarkets.com reveals that “despite the current global economy downturn, the global apparel industry continues to grow at a healthy rate.”

As great as this is, it doesn’t make earning the degree that you’ll need for a career in the industry any cheaper. Luckily, there are several scholarships out there aimed at helping students who are studying fashion fund their education.

In no particular order, a few of them are listed below!

YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund 

Image via http://www.limcollege.edu/

The prestigious YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) works with over 40 schools and 35 fashion companies (including Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, and Tommy Hilfiger) to make thousands of students’ dreams come true.

Each year, the organization awards approximately 100 $5,000 scholarships, four $10,000 scholarships, and four $30,000 scholarships. An impressive $8 million, at least, has been awarded to students since 1971. The YMA FSF also facilitates scholars in obtaining internships with prestigious companies and mentors senior students with career guidance.

Scholarships are awarded based on GPA, a case study project, a personal essay, and an interview with the YMA FSF Ambassador. Scholarship recipients are announced at an awards ceremony in New York City; but apply soon, because applications are due by November 13!

Find out if your college or university partners with the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund here, and check out more general information about the scholarship organization here.

Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) Women’s Jewelry Scholarship

Image via http://www.nationaljeweler.com/

Targeted specifically at students in the jewelry, watch, and related industry, the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) Women’s Jewelry Scholarship’s mission is to “help women in the jewelry and watch industries advance and develop professionally through networking, education, leadership development, and the provision of member services.”

Evolving since its humble beginnings in the early 1980s, the WJA is now a vital presence at industry trade shows. The association is now large enough to have its own scholarship fund; it awarded over $16,000 in scholarships last year and has recently raised over $60,000 for its upcoming scholarship program.

Scholarships are awarded in several different categories. In the past, these have included the Designer/Creator category based on finished pieces, the Designer category based on planned pieces, and Non-Designer essay-based category.

Although the deadline for 2015 has passed, applications should be back up and running early next year. Click here for more information about scholarship opportunities, and click here to learn what the Women’s Jewelry Association is all about.

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising National Scholarship Competition

Image via http://www.eventbrite.com/

Every year, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) holds a scholarship competition targeted towards the creative thinkers of tomorrow. This includes high school seniors, graduates, and college transfer students.

Winners are awarded a full one-year scholarship to attend FIDM and a feature in the virtual winner’s gallery. A winner and three finalists are chosen from seven different categories: Fashion Executive, Interior Designer, Graphic Designer, Fashion Designer, Virtual Designer, Digital Media Artist, and Trend Spotter.

Although the 2014-2015 scholarship period has ended, you can apply for next year’s scholarship by clicking here to enter your information and have the project guidelines and entry form sent to you in February of next year.

For more information about the scholarship competition, click here.

The Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award

Image via http://www.shanebarrycreative.com/

Established by Liz Claiborne’s husband and business partner as a facet of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s existing scholarship program, the Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award is based solely on merit.

Applicants are judged by a prestigious panel of industry experts based on certain guidelines. Specifically, according to the scholarship’s website, the scholarship is “presented to the student who best addresses the lifestyle and needs of women, given the current culture and world in which she lives and works.”

The $25,000 award must be used to fund the winner’s senior year of tuition and/or additional educational expenses. You can only apply if your school participates in the program, so you must contact your school for more information.

However, to learn more about the scholarship, click here!

The Kewl Shop Fashion Designers Scholarship

Image via http://www.thekewlshop.com/

This scholarship requests that applicants submit five fashion designs and concepts for a new range of apparel branded by The Kewl Shop. The submissions should focus on dresses, but this is merely a suggestion from the scholarship creators and not a requirement.

The most exceptional designs should be marketable, easy to manufacture, and, of course, show the potential for longevity in the fashion world. The scholarship also requires the submission of a short reflective essay.

The winner will be awarded $1,000 that is expected to be used towards tuition and books. Scholarship submissions are due December 15 of this year and award recipients will be notified January 15 of next year.

Head on over to the scholarship’s official website for additional information.

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