Fabulous Fashion Scholarships

by Robyn Tellefsen

Are you a dyed-in-the-wool fashionista? A fashion-forward trendsetter? Here's a chance to get your creativity on and vie for scholarships in some of the coolest fashion competitions around.

Fashion scholarship: YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF)
Who can win: College sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good standing at an FSF member school
How to win: Students must be selected by the FSF educator contact at their schools, complete a case study, and be interviewed by a member of the FSF organization.
What you can win: A trip to New York City and one of 80, $5,000 merit scholarships or one of four $25,000 merit scholarships for applicants chosen as prestigious Geoffrey Beene Scholars
Deadline: Contact your school in September 2010 if you're interested in applying.

Fashion scholarship: National Make It With Wool (MIWW) Competition
Who can win: Students enrolled in college-level fashion or apparel design program
How to win: Submit an original garment made of at least 60 percent wool.
What you can win: A $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the American Wool Council and a trip to Reno, NV, to participate in the MIWW National Finals Fashion Show
Deadline: November 1, 2010

Fashion scholarship: The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition
Who can win: High school seniors aspiring to a career in fashion design or fashion marketing & merchandising and retail management
How to win: Submit an originally designed eveningwear garment or an original fashion marketing, fashion merchandising, or retail management product or plan.
What you can win: Local competition winners earn $3,000 tuition scholarships to the Art Institutes school they represent. National grand-prize winners in both categories earn full-tuition scholarships and a VIP trip to New York City for Fashion Week 2011. National second-place winners earn $5,000 tuition scholarships; national third-place winners earn $4,000 tuition scholarships.
Deadline: November 19, 2010

Fashion scholarship: Pre-College Scholarship Program
Who can win: Potential undergraduate art and design students
How to win: Submit a two-page essay and documented financial need
What you can win: A tuition-free pre-college summer course at Parsons School of Design in New York City in drawing and design; design and technology lab: game design or animation design; integrated design; design and management; or photography.
Deadline: March 2011

Fashion scholarship: FIDM National Scholarship Competition
Who can win: High school seniors or graduates who have not received prior training in the category of the competition they are entering
How to win: Submit a creative project in graphic design, fashion design, interior design, fashion merchandising, visual design, or digital media artistry.
What you can win: A full, one-year scholarship to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM)
Deadline: April 30, 2011

Fashion scholarship: Stella Blum Student Research Grant
Who can win: An undergraduate or graduate student who is a member of the Costume Society of America and is working in the field of North American costume
How to win: Submit an original research project proposal of 1,000 words or less.
What you can win: A one-year grant of up to $2,500 for research in North American costume
Deadline: May 1, 2011

Fashion scholarship: Stuck at Prom Duck Brand Duck Tape Scholarship Contest
Who can win: High school students attending prom
How to win: Prom couples create an original prom dress and tuxedo out of duct tape and wear the outfits to prom.
What you can win: $3,000 scholarships for first-place winners; $2,000 for second place; $1,000 for third place; and $500 for the rest of the top 10 winners
Deadline: June 2011