[ad_1]
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In an ongoing effort to bridge the gap between education and a new generation of fashion from leaders Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color (BIPOC), Gap Inc., Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR), and ICON360, a non-profit subsidiary of HFR, today announced the winners of the ‘Closing the Gap’ scholarship. These 10 worthy fashion departments at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will receive financial awards from the $510,000 pool, making them the largest donation to an HBCU fashion program by a major retailer.
Launched through Gap Inc’s ongoing partnership. with Harlems Fashion Row, Closing the Gap aims to strengthen educational opportunities for the next generation of Black fashion leaders and provide a platform that empowers Black students to drive their studies and drive innovation in the fashion industry. In addition, Gap Inc. and ICON360 will partner to provide mentorship and internship opportunities to students currently enrolled in each of the winning HBCU programs.
“It is a great honor for us to partner with a global leader in the fashion world to kick off an inaugural awards ceremony that will turn into an annual event. industry but also to help provide them with tools and guidance, the next generation needs to take the fashion industry to a new level,” said Brandice Daniel, Founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row. “When Harlem’s Fashion Row started, we focused on designers looking to present their collections. to buyers and editors and quickly realized that to make a difference, we had to educate and mentor new talent entering the field. We hope to expand on this. initiatives and opportunities by welcoming all incoming professionals.”
The ten award recipients include:
-
Two (2) scholarships of $100,000:
-
Central North Carolina (Durham, NC)
-
North Carolina A&T (Greensboro, NC)
-
-
Five (5) scholarships of $50,000:
-
Delaware State University (Dover, DE)
-
Howard University (Washington, DC)
-
Bowie State University (Bowie, MD)
-
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, MD)
-
State of Tennessee (Nashville, TN)
-
-
Three (3) scholarships of $20,000:
-
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, AR)
-
Clark University Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
-
Norfolk State University (Norfolk, VA)
-
“As a company rooted in Inclusive, By Design, we are guided by the belief that business can, and should, be a force for good. This extends not only to our employees and customers, but also the communities we serve,” said Sarah Holme, Representative Executive President of Product Design & Development at Old Navy and Executive Sponsor of the cross-brand creative community across Gap Inc. “I look forward to working with Harlem’s Fashion Row to not only support HBCU’s rich and storied history but also to transform our industry for the better through developing pathways to fashion careers for black creative talents.”
Just last week, HFR launched its inaugural Fashion Playbook, sponsored by Gap Inc. The Playbook, targeted at teen, middle and high school, and college levels, is a library of online video content that showcases stories, tips and insights from fashion industry professionals to create awareness of the huge opportunities that lie within the industry. Of the 22 videos to be released next year, seven employees of Gap Inc. will be shown. New videos will be added every month to provide engaging content and continued engagement. This allows us to address an industry-wide problem: unfair access to opportunities for black talent, particularly in our most creative roles.
For more information on the ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative or to learn more about award recipients, visit HFR ICON 360.
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc., a purposeful collection of lifestyle brands, is America’s largest specialty clothing company offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the brands Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta. The company uses its omni-channel capabilities to bridge the digital world and physical stores to further enhance its shopping experience. Gap Inc. guided by its purpose, Inclusive, by Design, and takes pride in creating products and experiences its customers love while doing right by its employees, community and planet. Gap Inc. Products available for purchase worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal 2020 net sales were $13.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
About Harlems Fashion Row
Founded in 2007 by Brandice Daniel, the organization supports emerging talent and provides a platform for underrepresented African-American and Latino designers. Harlems Fashion Row (HFR) engages audiences and aligns brand partners with emerging color designers in Fashion. HFR’s mission is to discover and showcase emerging color talent through a customized national event platform and multi-platform programme. The organization initiates innovative events that attract many diverse influencers connected to the fashion industry. Their goal is to provide real business opportunities for people of color in fashion to showcase their skills and abilities in an industry, which this group often doesn’t have access to. To learn more, please visit www.harlemsfashionrow.com.
ICON360, a subsidiary of HFR started in 2020 during the pandemic and serves as a non-profit starting to help color designers affected by COVID 19. The nonprofit has now grown to not only help designers but also invest in the next generation of creatives.
[ad_2]
picture credit