Following a successful pilot year, Monsoon and Accessorize have confirmed a new commitment to funding scholarships at the University of the Arts London (UAL), London College of Fashion (LCF) and Central Saint Martins (CSM).
It is now accepting applications for the MA Fashion Futures Student Scholarship at LCF for the September 2024 intake.
Through the scholarship, the company aims to support one LCF MA Fashion Futures student to help further sustainable thinking, aligned with its goals, and ultimately to drive sustainability within the fashion industry.
The scholarship targets students who are in financial hardship with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability and focuses on two key areas:
- Regenerative fashion including raw materials. Processes and design
- Zero-waste design and digital innovation, including solutions for pre-consumer waste and products that fail quality control.
CEO of Monsoon Accessorize Nick Stowe commented: “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 provides 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.”
Monsoon Accessorizes' initial pilot has benefited two students so far. Sarabi Hawke, an LCF MA Fashion Futures student is exploring how community craft workshops can be leveraged for activism and ecological reclamation.
At CSM, PhD student Cassandra Quinn is researching the use of wastewater to grow materials for the fashion industry, aiming to create a closed-loop system where all resources are reused.
Polly Mackenzie, chief social purpose officer at UAL, praised the partnership, stating that the scholarships contribute to UAL's commitment to creating a better world through research and partnerships targeting crucial sectors.
“These scholarships play a vital role in supporting our students in creating a cleaner fashion industry that is rooted in sustainability and ethical practice,” added Mackenzie.
