TJU Fashion Design 2023 Black Talent in Design & Fashion Fund Recipients

Every day, TJU Fashion Design students continue to impress not only themselves and the Jefferson faculty, but also the greater fashion industry beyond. The Black Talent in Design & Fashion Fund is an initiative founded in 2019 to directly fund students studying to enter the fashion and footwear industries. Their mission supports individuals from underrepresented communities within fashion and design programs and encourages those students to pursue careers in the field by providing financial assistance for education. Through the generous support of industry donors such as Target, Lilith NYC, New Balance, Centric Brands, and many more, The Black Talent in Design & Fashion Fund awards $1000 scholarship annually to selected students with academic talents. Student winners are also supported by a community of industry mentors to help navigate the world of internships and entering the industry post-graduation.

Each year since its inception, fashion design students showcase their exceptional gifts and talents and are awarded scholarships through this fund, and 2023 is no exception. Out of the 10 students awarded scholarships, five Jefferson fashion design students received acknowledgement and funding to continue their studies. Awardees include Class of 2023 graduates Assim De Gabriel, Dwayne Smith, and Kierra Lee, as well as junior student Spryng Matos and sophomore Miarah Palmer. We wish the Class of 2023 awardees the best of luck as they pursue their careers in the fashion industry, and are excited to see what is yet to come from student designers Spryng and Miarah.