The YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (YMA FSF) is a nonprofit organization that has supported fashion, art, and business education for 80 years. Their 2017 competition proved to be the most competitive to date with 569 applicants from 58 member schools. Three of the scholarship winners were from the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University: BFA Fashion Design student Amanda Nyamache was awarded a $10,000 Geoffrey Beene Scholarship, and two BFA Fashion Merchandising students, Hyunji Lee and Elora Martinez, were each awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
The 2017 Geoffrey Beene Case Study focused on the future of sustainability within the mass market. Students were challenged to design a product for a mass retailer of their choosing that adhered to the retailer’s sustainable business objectives while remaining consistent with the retail price range of comparable products in the store. Amanda Nyamache was one of eight Geoffrey Beene Finalists to present to a panel of judges from the YMA FSF Board of Governors and was awarded a $10,000 scholarship. This is Amanda’s second scholarship from YMA FSF as she received $5000 last year.
The winners attended the YMA FSF Annual Awards Gala on January 12 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
This year the YMA FSF guests of honor included John Tighe, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchant of J.C. Penney, Judy Person, Executive Vice President and Group President of Randa Accessories and Fashion Entrepreneur Michael Strahan who was a National Football League player as a New York Giants defensive.
Fashion School Daily caught up with the three winners after the event:
Amanda Nyamache
Tell us about your project for the YMA Scholarship:
I created a sustainable activewear and accessory line for Target stores, as a designer collaboration with the luxury activewear brand ALO. The collection includes women’s activewear, backpacks equipped with solar panels, and yoga mats. All products were made from eco-friendly materials, while incorporating the use of 3-D printing and air-dye technology at the manufacturing stage.
What was your inspiration behind your project?
The inspiration behind SKIN is the act of camouflage in nature. In the process of designing this collection I was drawn to the color-change that happens to chameleons when trying to blend into their environment. I also took design cues from nature itself and the ways in which scales and feathers interact with bodies, which inspired my textile designs. The collection is created with eco-friendly materials in mind, to make the product more harmonious with nature.
What is the best advice you have received from a School of Fashion instructor?
Play to your strengths and continue to push yourself to be a better designer with each project.
Do you have a favorite School of Fashion memory?
Taking illustration and textile design courses were my favorite memories at the Academy.
Any advice for students looking to win a scholarship from YMA FSF?
Taking a product development or merchandising class prior to applying for the scholarship would be very beneficial. As a design student, I found developing my marketing and pricing strategies difficult, taking a class would have been very helpful.
Elora Martinez
Tell us about your project for the YMA Scholarship:
The goal of the YMA Scholarship was to try to attract the Millennial target market to Macy’s, whose current target is an older crowd. My plan was to create a menswear / unisex collection for Macy’s. I designed the collection based on my target, which means that materials were ethically sourced, hand made and printed, functional, stylish and focused on the active portion of the target. Millennials are the most active and healthy segment of our population and most environmentally aware of the effects of their choices. By creating a transparent casual cycling clothing line it targets the healthy, active, eco-conscious, hip and working millennials. But it not only can attract those in the U.S., but people all over the world, because cycling in other countries is much more prominent than in the U.S.
What was your inspiration behind your project?
The inspiration was from being an avid cyclist. I have not been able to find the clothing necessary for cycling but also clothing that satisfies my aesthetics and suitable for people my age (millennials). Everything is for an older client. I saw a niche market that needs to be filled and decided to make the collection and my scholarship based on my passion for the outdoors and cycling.
What is the best advice you have received from a School of Fashion instructor?
“Make things that you’re passionate about and something you believe in.” The instructor opened my eyes to realize that I need to be making things I love otherwise there’s no point.
Do you have a favorite School of Fashion memory?
I enjoyed having my work selected for the Academy’s Spring Show a few years in a row. The fashion shows are always fun.
Any advice for students looking to win a scholarship from YMA FSF?
Time management and focusing are important factors for this scholarship. Good luck.
Hyunji Lee
Tell us about your project for the YMA Scholarship:
My project was to establish a Customized Jewelry DIY Bar at Macy’s to reposition their jewelry market presence and help Etsy vendors to expose hand-crafted products to the existing and potential target market. The case study was to identify what product line would make the collaborations between Macy’s and Etsy the most successful for all stakeholders involved. Customized Jewelry DIY Bar (which was my proposition) will help Macy’s to reposition their jewelry market presence and help Etsy vendors expose hand-crafted products to the existing and potential target market. The two strategic initiatives are designed to help the company scale its fastest growing sellers and keep them loyal to the platform that has launched their success.
What was your inspiration behind your project?
My inspiration was definitely from the discussion that we had in an accessories merchandising class with instructor Jill Siefert. Jill is a wonderful instructor who had so much experience as well as passion towards this market place. We had crazy class schedule every week as we were outside of the classroom visiting the studios of different designers, going to stores and on other trips for market research. We also had a guest speaker who was a former vice president of Macy’s give us some insights about what real industry people are looking for.
Did you attend the awards dinner?
I did attend the gala dinner along with two other Academy students. It was a wonderful experience, not just the dinner and the fancy party but also meeting and talking with some of the over 1200 fashion industry people who were in attendance. I was able to talk about my projects and share my thoughts on the fashion industry.
What is the best advice you have received from a School of Fashion instructor?
Instructor Jill Siefert said to “plan a date with yourself.” Meaning, make time for yourself to do reflection and work.
Do you have a favorite School of Fashion memory?
My favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion would definitely be attending the YMA Fashion Scholarship dinner.
Any advice for students looking to win a scholarship from YMA FSF?
YMA is very strict with formats and how the contents should be addressed. Therefore, I would say read the scholarship instruction carefully and always check back to see if you are on the right track. As well, keep your GPA score over 3.0. If your GPA score isn’t above 3.0, you won’t be given the chance of submitting your work. Do well in school and ask your instructors for help and advice.
