FSF FIGHTS FOR NEXT-GEN: Now, more than ever — recent grads need the support of the industry, said the Fashion Scholarship Fund’s executive director Peter Arnold.
By Kaley Roshitsh on May 13, 2020
Appropriately it’s the name of the organization’s latest campaign, as nearly all of FSF’s 150 corporate partners — which includes companies such as Centric Brands Inc., Derek Lam and Gap Inc., among others — “have rescinded job offers or put off initiatives,” as Arnold professed.
The initiative spotlights some of the hundreds of FSF scholars, what Arnold calls the “best and brightest” talent pool the industry has yet to receive.
FSF is focusing on “hard skills we can work on in the next six months,” through digital offerings like workforce preparedness training and forums that fill the gaps between what’s taught in school and what’s learned on the job. It’s catered to not just current FSF scholars, but also the 1,500 or so scholarship alums who are “first to be furloughed or laid off.”
“We know the current industry challenges,” said Arnold frankly, underscoring that “our industry needs talent — it will always need talent, fresh ideas and innovation,” calling for support during these challenging times.
“They need a scholarship more than they’ve ever needed it before. In many cases, their parents have lost their jobs and can’t afford to send them back,” he reiterated.
One narrative from the Now More Than Ever campaign is of FSF scholar Javier Uriegas, a fashion student at the University of Texas who is currently quarantined in a studio off-campus.
“I’ve been scared and worried my whole life — I don’t come from a very financially stable background,” said Uriegas in the spotlight video. He goes on to share how his paid internship from the past semester supported the bulk of his food expenditures but shared: “that’s what I’m currently lacking.”
When WWD asked what skills will be most needed from entry-level applicants, Arnold said it will be “on the more practical side” merging the creative with the commercial.
“It’s more of a digital play than it’s ever been,” he said, adding that the focus for FSF has usually been on analytics and supply chain expertise.
And as for sustainability, Arnold said there is “a level of consciousness of the importance, now, of sustainability. I think the world has changed.”
As a judge to senior projects from FSF scholars, Arnold determined “[sustainability] is not a question for them, it’s a given.” He thinks they’ve embraced the concept more fully than the industry at present. Arnold projects one year from now, “The breadth of opportunity is going to be smaller,” with “just as many kids” competing for fewer jobs. He added: “Many retailers are not going to be the same institution — not the same hiring needs.”
“These are very talented and deserving kids, and the problem of supporting talent should be one of the [priorities],” he stressed.