Not a day goes by that the fashion industry doesn't mourn the late Virgil Abloh. With his passing LVMH wanted to give the generation a chance to chase their dreams through The Virgil Abloh Post Modern Scholarship. This groundbreaking initiative embodies the innovative spirit and inclusivity championed by Virgil.
Established in his honor, this scholarship seeks to empower aspiring creatives from underrepresented backgrounds in the fashion and design industries. It serves as a beacon of opportunity, recognizing and supporting talented individuals who bring diverse perspectives and fresh ideas to the forefront of these competitive fields.
On Monday, April 8th, LVMH hosted a panel discussion for the program recipients. The discussion featured Corey Smith, Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion at LVMH North America, and Michael Burke, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, along with four panelists who have progressed through the ranks within the LVMH family. This event showcased the benefits of the Virgil Abloh Post Modern Scholarship, which provides financial support, mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to help recipients grow and succeed. This scholarship pays tribute to Virgil Abloh's visionary leadership and fosters a more inclusive and equitable future in the fashion and design industries.
Michael Burke, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, shares how he met and hired Abloh." Hiring somebody like Virgil is pretty difficult, I usually like to say because the person is hungry but he was different, he was hungry in different ways." Having met Virgil by chance in Tokyo 20 years prior the 2 didn't speak then but remained in contact. Years later, when Kim Jones decided to leave Louis Vuitton, Burke knew exactly who to tap to be his successor.
Mallory Butts, who is a Virgil Abloh Scholar, sounded off on how Virgil inspired her. "I chose cosmetic engineering because of Virgil; I strongly believe in his philosophies, practices, and his ability to storytell. It's important to me to do something and live for a purpose that's bigger than myself. Therefore, I aspire to be a cosmetic engineer to create skincare products for people of color and reduce the disparity gap in the cosmetic industry. This also aligns with my interest in fashion design, and I hope to become a creative director for the same purpose: to work on something bigger than myself, telling black stories and narratives."
Later on that evening, the Fashion Scholarship Fund hosted their 87th Annual Gala, celebrating the Class of 2024 FSF Scholars with honorees like Tracee Ellis Ross, Spike Lee, Vera Wang, Michael Burke (LVMH), Paloma Elsesser, Pete Nordstrom, and Shannon Abloh, sponsored by Moët Hennessy USA. The evening featured speakers celebrating the final four of the Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholars out of 130 members from 72 colleges and universities across the U.S. The night ended with a Moët & Chandon toast from Vera Wang and John Tighe (Board President of FSF) as the winner of the 2024 Chairman’s Award, Oliva Meyer, was announced.
Denae Harrison, a junior at Spelman College and Virgil Abloh scholar, shared her thoughts on the event. "I had no expectations for this event, so it's definitely exceeded everything. It's been amazing. People are just willing to network with you and offer you any professional development, mentoring or sponsoring opportunity. It's been great."
