Since its inception in 1996, the CFDA Scholarship Fund has awarded $4.4 million to 384 students, supporting the next generation of American fashion designers.
Since FIT began participating in 2008, FIT students have received more than $450,000 in scholarships. The faculty mentors—the Fashion Department’s Assistant Chair and Associate Professor Christopher Uvenio and Adjunct Assistant Professor Mary Capozzi—said that this year’s success “affirms FIT’s reputation as a leader in cultivating innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship in fashion education.”
This year the new CFDA x Veronica Beard Creative Futures Scholarship recognizes four Fashion Design or Textile/Surface Design students excelling in knitwear, denim, soft wovens, and tailoring. FIT students claimed three of the four spots, each receiving a $50,000 scholarship and a paid summer internship at Veronica Beard’s corporate headquarters.
Juniors in the Fashion Design and Textile/Surface Design programs were first invited to submit original work, ranging from mood boards and sketches to final garments. Three finalists in each of the four categories participated in a design challenge to create capsule collections.
The final presentations were reviewed by Veronica Beard co-founders Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard, along with the brand’s vice president of design, Iris Lee. Lee explained that the judges were looking for a strong point of view and a strong understanding of the brand ethos.
Samira Koehler, who won in the knitwear category, is using some of the scholarship money to repay her parents who she said have made countless sacrifices to support her dreams. Her project, Revert, was inspired by six influential women in her life that she says “are strong, resilient, hard working, classy, radiant women.”
Athmiha Saravanen, who won for tailoring, said that the award has strengthened her confidence as a designer and encouraged her to keep innovating. Her submission, In Translation, was inspired by the languages she speaks—French, English, Hindi, and Tamil—which she said reflects her concept of cultural duality.
For Giorgio Parolini Arroyo, the soft wovens winner, the award was the culmination of years of dedication. His collection, Revolución, was inspired by the Mexican Revolution. “I am from Mexico City, and the focus of my work is combining traditional Mexican elements into a contemporary wardrobe for a modern, healthy, and confident woman,” he said.
Arroyo’s collection featured collaborations with Mexican artisans who created natural dyes from flowers and crafted traditional huaraches. Connecting his work to Veronica Beard’s design inspiration came naturally. “We are designing clothes meant to exist in the lives of women—for them—not some individualistic idea imposed on someone to say, ‘this is what you should believe,’” he said.
Together, these award recipients embody the spirit of FIT—designers who bring technical mastery and personal storytelling to the forefront of fashion. As they look ahead to their careers, each remains committed to creating with purpose, building a future where fashion is not just seen but deeply felt.