The British Fashion Council has revealed that four students will receive
scholarships to study fashion MAs. The scholarships are awarded by the
British Fashion Council Education Foundation, a registered charity that
offers scholarships to talented young people to study BAs and MAs.
The four recipients are described as “promising students who have
already excelled in their BA degrees” and will benefit from the programme,
which aims to improve access into fashion study and employment.
For 2016, the recipients are: Cassandra Verity Green from Central Saint
Martins who will study the MA Fashion Womenswear (Accessories) course at
Royal College of Art; Cavan McPherson also from Central Saint Martins will
study the MA Fashion Womenswear (Knitwear) course at Royal College of Art;
Geraint Brian Lewis from University of South Wales will study the Menswear
MA course at University of Westminster; and Yasemin Cakli from University
of Westminster will study the Menswear MA course at University of
Westminster.
This year’s judging panel included Emma Farrow, head of design at
Finery; Nabil Nayal, designer and former scholarship recipient; and Sarah
Mower, the British Fashion Council Ambassador for Emerging Talent.
For the first time this year, previous scholarship winner Erdem joined
the scheme’s funders which include: Coach, Marks and Spencer, Net-a-Porter
and Eiesha Bharti Pasricha. The project was also partly supported by HM
Government with Employer Ownership funding through Creative Skillset.
Erdem Moralıoğlu said: “I was lucky enough to win the scholarship whilst
studying at the Royal College of Art. Looking back I understand how
important that was for me then and what’s important to me now is that
others can benefit at a similar stage in their development.”
Sarah Mower, who is also co-president of the BFC Education Pillar with
Meribeth Parker, added: “The British fashion industry is fuelled by the
originality and drive of people from every background who emerge from our
world-beating fashion education system. As the costs of further education
continue to rise, The British Fashion Council Education Foundation is
dedicated to ensuring that the doors remain open to excellent students to
whom expense is a barrier. We are grateful to every donor who joins with us
to guarantee that brilliant young people continue to strengthen the future
of our unique industry.”
Applications were open to graduating students from member colleges of
the BFC’s Colleges Council.
Image: courtesy of British Fashion Council