Four young women from UNCG are making their mark on the future of fashion.

Each won a $5,000 scholarship in the annual YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) competition. Winners were announced Jan. 10 during the FSF awards gala at New York’s posh Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

2012 FSF scholarships went to Victoria Kim, studying apparel design; and to Joanna Barrat, Lina Helgeson, and Katherine Poindexter, all studying retailing and consumer studies. The women, all CARS (Consumer Apparel and Retail Studies) students,  also receive summer internships with industry leaders.

Kim submitted six design sketches representing different clothing items from around the world, including designs inspired by Brazil (pictured here). She plans to complete a fashion design internship in London this summer, and says that internship would not be possible without the scholarship.

“Winning the scholarship has given me the invaluable experience to network with executives in the industry that are willing to mentor and help students in this competitive industry,” Kim says. “The biggest point I took away from the experience is that it is important to stay current with innovations in every industry because you never know what could be the next big thing, and in order to stay relevant in business you have to be able to adapt to what’s next.”

The FSF scholarships have brought in about $200,000 for CARS students since 2000, says Dr. Gwendolyn O’Neal, CARS department head. “That’s money coming in from outside UNCG and directly benefitting students.”

As a plus, O’Neal and Kim appeared on the New York Times’ “Evening Hours” photo page spotlighting the event.

The competition requires a research paper, as well as detailed design sketches or business plans. Submission packets are screened by an industry professional who decides which submissions go to New York for final judging.

Competition is fierce. Submissions come from schools like Harvard, Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, the Pratt Institute and the Savannah College of Art & Design.

But UNCG has always had a strong showing. In 2010, CARS student Jennifer McMasters won a $10,000 YMA Geoffrey Beene Fashion Scholarship.

CARS is housed in the Bryan School of Business and Economics.

The YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund, founded in 1937, is a national non-profit association that promotes education in the fashion arts and business.

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