Brandon Maxwell, Daniella Kallmeyer Host Fashion Scholarship Fund Cocktail

The Fashion Scholarship Fund hosted an intimate cocktail party Tuesday night in Manhattan, bringing together industry figures and scholarship alumni to learn more about the work the organization is doing to create industry pathways for young talent through the FSF and Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” scholarship programs.

The night, which was co-hosted by designers Daniella Kallmeyer and Brandon Maxwell, brought together the likes of Calvin Klein’s Jessica Lomax, Michelle Ochs, Alexandra O’Neill, Tanner Fletcher, Lizzie Fortunato, Fern Mallis, Bruce Pask and many more.

FSF executive director Peter Arnold and FSF board president and Fairchild Media Group chief executive officer Amanda Smith spoke about how those in the room can get involved.

“As a board member of the FSF, I believe it’s really important to support the future of the industry,” Smith said. “I think for us, looking at how we can support the students and do more work with them, is the reason that we are here. And as we’ve had the opportunity to get to know so many of the students, you can see how incredibly talented they are. It is a rich group that is diverse, smart, ambitious, and there are lots of ways that we can work with them.”

Smith noted that there are many ways to get involved with the organization. These include mentoring students, hiring them as an intern or a full-time employee, joining the FSF summer scholarship series, attending the organization’s gala or providing scholarship funding.

“There are lots of opportunities to get involved, and we would love to have you in any way that you’re comfortable,” Smith said.

Designer Daniella Kallmeyer followed up Smith’s remarks by saying that mentorship programs like the one FSF provides meant so much to her in the beginning of her career.

“In fact, some of my mentors are here tonight and have been very meaningful to my career advancement for many years,” Kallmeyer noted. “I was also lucky enough to hire an FSF scholar for an internship. And believe me, these are very talented and dedicated students. So, please get involved however you can.”

Maxwell added that he has been a longtime admirer, supporter, and friend to the FSF. “I want to just say thank you to everyone for coming tonight and for supporting the organization,” he said. “Please, give where you can.”

Following their remarks, two FSF Scholars shared their stories of how the organization has supported – and continues to support – shaping their careers.

Flora Medina, class of 2025 FSF Scholar finalist and SCAD graduate, admitted that has a Seattle native, she always felt the fashion industry was “really far removed from anything attainable or real” in her own life.

“I am lucky enough to have parents who did everything in their power to make it real for me and encouraged me to get a degree in fashion and go to school,” Medina said. “I’m just incredibly grateful to have that support behind me.

The FSF alumni, who now has a role as associate editor at i-D magazine, added that when the 2025 case study competition was announced, she knew that it was my time to “step up to the plate.”

“I spent my entire summer at home learning everything I could about Crocs and AI to put together the best marketing case study I could,” Medina said. “A few months later I learned I was named the marketing finalist for the year. I spent the following months really using all the resources from the FSF that I could, really building my confidence and preparing to tell a room of hundreds of people about my case study, my work and myself. I’m very proud to be a part of the FSF and to get to help and support the organization that is really doing unparalleled work to help students like me across the country who are dreaming of being in this industry.”

Fatmata Camara, a multi-year FSF and Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholar, winner of the 2025 FSF Chairman’s Award and LIM graduate, spoke about the risk she took when approaching her case study.

“I challenged myself with the business strategy prompt, and there had never been a winner in that specific prompt before I submitted mine,” Camara said. “I proposed ‘Smart React,’ an AI-powered skincare concept that pairs bio-sensitive material with real-time feedback so people can make clearer decisions about their skin.”

Camara, who is now an assistant buyer at Macy’s, added that she found the confidence to pursue such an ambitious idea by being a part of FSF and from mentors who challenged her.

“I want to say plainly that I love the FSF team,” Camara said. “You guys read the work, give real feedback, hold a really high bar and help people reach it. You make it really feel like a professional homebase. Programs like this are proof that when you keep doors open and standards high, you can find people to rise and meet the occasion. And I’m so grateful and blessed to be one of those people.”

The FSF works directly with the country’s most talented young students and awards over $1.9 million each year in scholarships to help these students succeed in all sectors of the industry including design and product development, merchandising, marketing, and business strategy.

The FSF also provides scholars with a wide range of internship and career opportunities, mentorship, networking, professional development, and unprecedented access to the industry’s most influential leaders and companies.

FSF will host its annual Gala, dubbed “FSF Live,” on March 23, 2026.