FASHION RETAIL NEWS UK
Monsoon and Accessorize proudly announce their commitment to funding scholarships for trailblazing students at London College of Fashion (LCF) and Central Saint Martins (CSM), University of the Arts London (UAL). Following a successful pilot year, applications are now open for the Monsoon Accessorize MA Fashion Futures Student Scholarship for September 2024.
To apply, students must be accepted into the MA Fashion Futures course at LCF, UAL, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. Scholarships focus on areas such as regenerative fashion, zero-waste design, and digital innovation.
Monsoon and Accessorize support students facing financial hardship and those who will benefit from postgraduate studies to realise their full potential. This initiative underscores the brand’s dedication to sustainability and innovation in fashion, aligning with their ethos of enriching everyday life through natural beauty and craftsmanship.
Sarabi Hawke, the first recipient of the scholarship, uses her MA to explore fashion as a tool for activism and community engagement. “I found that these were really good spaces to be able to talk the importance of craft, about how great handmade pieces are, and to redefine the value we place on clothing,” she says.
Cassandra Quinn, a PhD student at CSM, UAL, is researching how to use wastewater to grow materials for the fashion industry, creating a closed-loop system. “I’m experimenting with different microorganisms to see what can remove the contaminants that are in it that can then be turned into pigments, bio plastics, bio resins, fibers or coatings to be used in clothes design,” she says.
Nick Stowe, CEO of Monsoon Accessorize, emphasises the importance of their partnership with UAL and the impact of these scholarships on fostering sustainable innovation in fashion. “We have developed a great working relationship with UAL on a number of sustainability and innovation projects, and we’re proud to be able to support their students directly via these scholarships. UAL’s Fashion Futures course is groundbreaking and, more broadly, UAL provide an incredible platform for research and innovation in our industry. We see these scholarships as just one part of our investment in creating a better future for fashion, investing in the people making real change. We’re excited to see how Sarabi’s and Cassandra’s research progresses.”
Polly Mackenzie, Chief Social Purpose Officer at UAL, highlights the scholarships’ role in creating a cleaner, more ethical fashion industry. “We are delighted to be working with Monsoon Accessorize to provide these brilliant scholarships for our students. This opportunity is an invaluable contribution to our commitment as UAL to create a better world through research and partnerships that target the sectors that matter. These scholarships play a vital role in supporting our students in creating a cleaner fashion industry that is rooted in sustainability and ethical practice.”
For more information, visit the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins.