Today, the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) announced Virgil Abloh will join its Board of Governors, where Abloh will provide scholarships, internships, mentoring and professional development opportunities for young creatives who are starting careers in the fashion industry. This news follows the announcement of Abloh’s $1 million USD “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, which will provide guidance and financial assistance to students of Black, African-American or African descent and operate alongside FSF.
Recipients of the “Post-Modern” scholarship will receive $5,000 USD scholarships prior to the commencement of their spring semesters, paid summer internships, mentorship from industry leaders and FSF professional development resources. “Young Black people are ready to be heard, and it’s high time we provided them with the in-roads and opportunities they need to become the next heads of our fashion houses,” Abloh stated in a press release.
FSF Executive Director Peter Arnold also stated that Abloh’s commitment to diversity and inclusion will work in tandem with the organization’s goals, explaining that the FSF is committed to broadening its work with historically Black colleges and universities and other academic institutions with significant populations of students of color. “We are attracting highly talented students who we believe represent the future of the industry,” reads Arnold’s statement. “We are expanding our outreach to these schools and have plans to onboard an additional six HBCUs in 2021.”
For more on eligibility requirements and information on how to apply for the “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, visit the FSF site.
In other news, Abloh recently took to Instagram to tease the new Off-White™ x Nike Air Force 1 MoMA.