LVMH’s Michael Burke, Tracee Ellis Ross and Pete Nordstrom Honored at Fashion Scholarship Fund Gala

Lisa Lockwood
·8 min read
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Industry executives mixed, mingled and offered lots of good advice to students on Monday at the Fashion Scholarship Fund Awards Gala.

The Fashion Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit that works with the country’s most talented young students from diverse backgrounds and awards more than $1.4 million annually in scholarships, recognized 130 college students from the class of 2024 FSF Scholars and Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholars at the organization’s 87th annual gala at New York City’s Glasshouse Monday.

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Hosted by model and body advocate Paloma Elsesser, the event honored Michael Burke, chairman and chief executive officer of LVMH Fashion Group; Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, CEO and founder of Pattern Beauty, and Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer of Nordstrom Inc., for their commitment to supporting and fostering the next generation of fashion talent and for their leadership for diversity and inclusive representation in the fashion industry.

Among the guests were Spike Lee, Shannon Abloh, Vera Wang, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Christopher John Rogers, Heron Preston, Willy Chavarria, Bibhu Mohapatra, Colm Dillane, Daniella Kallmeyer, Christopher Bevans, Gigi Burris, Jonathan Cohen, Eric Emanuel, Karla Welch, Linda Fargo, Rickie de Sole, Lana Todorovich, Paul Rosengard, Constance C.R. White, Jaimee Marshall, Debra Malbin, Fern Mallis and Steven Kolb.

Olivia Meyer, a senior from Kent State University who was introduced by Fargo, senior vice president fashion office and store presentation, Bergdorf Goodman, came away with the $25,000 Chairman’s Award. She was presented the award by Vera Wang, Elsesser and FSF board president John Tighe.

“Thank you for empowering us so we can empower others,” said Meyer upon receiving her award.

Last month, the four highest-scoring Scholar Finalists competed for the Chairman’s Award by presenting in-depth case studies that propose a solution to an ESG issue to a panel of judges. Meyer’s case study centered around Sheertex, which makes single-leg tights so that if the tights get a rip or run, one doesn’t have to replace the whole pair.

Meyer, who hails from Chicago, said she hopes to move to New York after graduation this spring.

“She’s impressive in a way that you need to be to do that balance of the business, between presentation, commitment to an idea and focus. Olivia has that,” said Fargo after Meyer won.

Elsesser encouraged the students to meet and mingle with the many industry heavyweights in the room.

“It wasn’t that long ago that I was a student at the New School. I was studying psychology and literature while working four different jobs. At that point, I’m not sure I could have predicted the path my life would take over the next almost 10 years. In my story, one person saw something special in me and sent an email that changed my life. That person was the legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath. Look around, scholars. This room is full of people you’ve never met that could change your life. You never know. Don’t be shy tonight,” said Elsesser.

The students came from 75 colleges and universities in the U.S. and demonstrated their ability to disrupt and transform the fashion industry as not only creatives, but also marketing and business students. All of the scholars were in attendance and had their work showcased at the event.

Peter Arnold, executive director of the Fashion Scholarship Fund, said last December, the FSF Board of Governors ratified a three-year strategic plan, mapping the path forward for both the FSF and the Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholarship Fund. “None of his would be possible without the support of all of you,” he said.

Shannon Abloh, founder and board chair of the Virgil Abloh Foundation, described how Post-Modern originated and what shaped “the remarkable program.”

“First…a clear understanding that talent is everywhere but opportunities and access are not. Virgil and many of our friends growing up knew and experienced this firsthand. And while he went on to be the first in many industries — he was determined not to be the last,” said Abloh, about her late husband, Virgil Abloh, who partnered with the FSF to establish the Post-Modern Scholarship Fund in 2020 to foster equity and inclusion across the fashion industry by providing scholarship funds, career support and mentoring to Black students. Virgil Abloh, CEO of Off-White and artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, died in November 2021.

Second, she said is a “belief that collaboration is community building. Virgil had a habit of saying that people often think the mountain they’re looking to climb is too high, but it actually isn’t. Anything is possible if you build and move together.” And third, “our vision for what’s possible must always be limitless. Virgil was optimistic. He was a visionary, and when it came to the change we both wanted to see in the world, he was impatient.”

Abloh said with the support and partnership of the Virgil Abloh Foundation, the next cohort of Virgil Abloh Post -Modern Scholars will increase by 100 percent, doubling their support from 30 students to 60 students with scholarships in 2025.

In presenting the award to Tracee Ellis Ross, Welch, the stylist and founder of The Period Co., said, “What can I say…Tracee Ellis Ross understands the assignment. She understands the power of fashion. She understands the power of herself in fashion. Not only as a fun, joyful form and self-expression, but she understands what it means to use fashion as a tool to make real change in the world.”

Ross, an actor known for her roles on “Girlfriends” and “Black-ish,” and founder of Pattern Beauty, also had advice for the students. “I join you this evening as a lover of fashion, of creativity and of business, and a champion of change and innovation. I invite you to embark on the important work of threading the needle between the profitable thing and the right thing. They can be the same thing if you do your work with your heart open, not with your eyes closed. And it helps to have a genuine love for humanity. So spread your ideas and your creativity far and wide. We are counting on you. The world needs you and the fashion industry is waiting for you,” said Ross.

Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer of Nordstrom, wasn’t present to receive his award. “I’m not Pete Nordstrom,” joked cousin Jamie Nordstrom, chief merchandising officer of Nordstrom, who accepted on his behalf. He told the crowd that he was honored to accept the award and that their job is to bring their customers something new and something authentic. “And the only way that happens is someone somewhere comes up with a new idea. That’s not something you’re going to find sitting around the office or in a conference room….Every leap forward we’ve ever had as a company was because somebody was brave enough to try an idea, and they had the support around them to execute that. It’s our responsibility to create that pathway to nurture that talent and give them those opportunities,” said Nordstrom.

Spike Lee, who presented the award to Burke, told the students to seek support. “You can’t do it by yourself, so just remember that. Hook up with the people with the same goals and do your thing,” said Lee.

LVMH’s Burke said he doesn’t give acceptance speeches very often and usually likes to show a video, but was told the day before that was cheating so had to come up with a speech.

He also encouraged the students to have a support system in place. “I recommend you chose what you are absolutely very good at and you are passionate about, and become the best in the world. Make it into your superpower. What [Abloh] was able to do that was so amazing is that he did that by being nice. We have never encountered a single person that didn’t think that Virgil was nice. He crushed it with niceness. That’s Virgil,” said Burke.

Burke said it takes decades of your life before you can be successful. “I urge you to try to not be successful out of the gates. It’s virtually impossible. You need that one superpower, you need a great story, and that is not enough. What you need is your support system. Where’s Shannon [Abloh]? Shannon is what I am talking about. Myself, I had an amazing support system within the industry. I have had many mentors within the industry. My boss was a mentor, but more importantly, you all need a personal support system, in your families, people who will wait patiently for decades, for the butterfly to come and fly away. Personally, it was my wife Brigitte, she gave me five sons. Those five sons and my beloved deceased wife were my support system. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Launch Gallery: Fashion Scholarship Fund Hosts 87th Awards Gala Honoring Michael Burke, Tracee Ellis Ross and Pete Nordstrom

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