What does it take to rub elbows with Donald Trump, Diane Von Furstenberg, and CEO’s of many of the nation’s leading retail corporations? A really good idea. Recently, Brandeis became one of a collection of colleges partnering with the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund to provide $5,000 scholarships to students who create an exceptional case study. All different majors are invited to brainstorm the “next big thing” in clothing and accessories, and explain just how they would launch their very own brand. Out of three Brandeis students who entered (and won), two of us were Her Campus staff members who wanted to share our experience and encourage every Her Campus reader to inquire about this program.
Danielle Schivek and I have had the opportunity not only to meet with some of fashion’s most successful businesspeople, but also have been contacted by YMA partner companies regarding summer internships. The scholarship may have been the initial draw, but it is not nearly the only thing worth celebrating. Danielle’s project involved an all-American brand, a step to help revitalize our economy by reducing outsourcing and creating much needed jobs on our own turf.
My project was a variation on the toning sneaker using compression in clothing to provide extra muscle resistance. In fact, only a month after I began to research this technology, FILA (a sportswear company) launched the country’s first ever line of compression wear. Someone else had the same idea!
Winners were invited to an all-expense-paid awards dinner in New York, where we stayed in the beautiful Waldorf-Astoria and were introduced to icons including Tommy Hilfiger and Celia Dean, one of the founders of V Magazine. The fund has attracted attention from the New York Times, among many others, and the event was photographed by Patrick McMullan Co. “The night of the event we were surrounded by female powerhouses such as DVF and Glenda Bailey.” Danielle said, “It was completely mindblowing and has motivated me to succeed further.”
Log on to their site to see if your school is among the participants and be among next year’s group of YMA Scholars!