Harlem’s Fashion Row’s ICON360 announced the launch of the 360 Fashion Scholarship in partnership with Nordstrom. The scholarship is only open to HBCU students.

The prestigious honor is “an empowering opportunity designed to catalyze change and foster inclusivity within the dynamic realm of fashion,” according to its official website. The scholarship is “dedicated to addressing the disparities that hinder the progress of diverse talent within the fashion industry.” 

Five students will have the chance to win. Three students will receive $5,000 and the other two will receive $2,500. Each scholarship recipient will also get the opportunity to partake in a semester-long 1:1 mentorship with leaders in the retail fashion industry. They’ll be able to gain valuable professional development opportunities, which includes comprehensive resume and portfolio reviews. Participants will also get access to exclusive insights into the fashion industry.

In order to be qualified for the scholarship, applicants have to be HBCU sophomores or juniors interested in a career in fashion. You must be Black and/or African American, have a GPA of 3.0, major in disciplines applicable to the fashion industry – including but not limited to fashion design, merchandising, marketing, journalism, business administration, management, and public relations – and they must be U.S. citizens or legal residents. You can apply here.

“As the founder and CEO of HFR, I know firsthand the barriers in our industry. ICON360 is excited to partner with Nordstrom to provide more pathways for the next generation of Black designers and HBCU fashion students,” said Brandice Daniel, founder and CEO of HFR and ICON360, in a statement.

“Nordstrom set ambitious marketplace diversity and equity commitments. To reach these goals, we need to invest in improved pathways for fashion, design and retail talent,” senior director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at Nordstrom Colleen Mitchell added. 

HFR is a premier agency that was launched in 2007 with a purpose to give designers of color a platform for recognition in the fashion industry because they were consistently being overlooked. In 2020, HFR’s nonprofit organization ICON360 was created to take the mission to the next level by providing financial support to Black designers and fashion programs at HBCUs.