Nordstrom and the Fashion Scholarship Fund announced the winner of the first Nordstrom Made Scholarship

Together with the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF), US department store chain Nordstrom has announced the winners of its newly launched Nordstrom Made Scholarship. It is awarded to six sustainability-minded students from diverse backgrounds who are studying fashion design and aiming for a career in the fashion industry.

Each will receive a $10,000 college scholarship and a two-day, all-expenses-paid career awareness experience in New York City, including the organization’s annual gala and careers panel at Nordstrom. Winners will also participate in a year-long mentorship program with more than 20 Nordstrom leaders across multiple functions. Nordstrom also promises hands-on, immersive experiences aimed at developing relevant career skills.

The Nordstrom Made Scholarship launched with the Fashion Scholarship Fund is one of many ways we are working to increase the pathway of historically underrepresented talent into the fashion and retail industries, commented Nina Barjesteh, president of Nordstrom Product Group, in a press release. We understand the importance of investing in the next generation of fashion talent and are grateful for playing a role in the career paths of these talented scholars.

Nordstrom Made Scholarship recipients are Cristina Cruz and Maliki Gilbert, both from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia; LeeAnn Huang of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona; Tahaj Tanksley-Barrett of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia; Jakarie Whitaker of Clark Atlanta University and Kiki Wanjing Zuo, Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California.

Had a great experience in New York, and thanks to Nordstrom’s Fashion Scholarship Fund X for the opportunity, said Zuo on LinkedIn. I have met so many talented people. I enjoyed speaking with Karlie Kloss, Phillip Lim and Sergio Hudson. Sergio’s guidance and support has been invaluable to me, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to speak to and learn from him.

In 2022, Nordstrom first partnered with the Fashion Scholarship Fund as part of Concept 018: Virgil Abloh Securities with scholarship donations and mentorship opportunities for four students. They are part of the FSF’s Post-Modern Virgil Abloh Scholarship Fund, which promotes equality and inclusion in the fashion industry by awarding scholarships to students of black, African-American, or African academic promise.

The Fashion Scholarship Fund is pleased to announce its inaugural class of FSF x Nordstrom Made Scholars, said FSF executive director Peter Arnold. We are deeply grateful to Nordstrom for their ongoing and deep partnership, and for the outstanding support and invaluable experience, mentorship, and career opportunities they provide our scholars.

Over the past year, Nordstrom has also announced partnerships with Harlems Fashion Row and their non-profit ICON360, a program of product management courses and mentorship at Morehouse College and the continuation of its partnership with the National Retail Federations Student Program.