Ciara, Kuan Jackson, Russell WilsonMatt Borkowski/BFA.com
One thing felt certain at the Fashion Scholarship Fund’s annual gala: the future of fashion is in good hands. On the first Monday of spring, guests gathered at The Glasshouse in West Chelsea against the backdrop of the Hudson River and a seemingly endless horizon. In keeping, the energy and creativity of the room full of college students from across the country felt just as boundless.
The organization put together a run of show that kept the crowd fully captivated until the very end. Stylist and fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson served as the evening’s host; a full-circle moment given that she is a former FSF Scholar herself. Opening remarks were delivered by FSF executive director Peter Arnold and Farai Simoyi, head of Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholarship and Equity. “What our work continues to show is that when you open doors and say ‘we see you’—those students don’t just enter the industry; they stay, they lead, and they begin to change it,” Simoyi said, referring to 90% of the Fund’s alumni who continue to work in fashion.
Wrapped in an espresso-hued corduroy trench, actor Jeremy Pope took the stage to introduce his longtime friend, collaborator, and the first honoree of the evening: Law Roach. Before speaking, the “image architect” behind Zendaya, Ariana Grande, et al, flipped his famously sleek hair—a callback to Pope’s introduction—in a move that sent the audience erupting into laughter. The mood quickly turned reflective as Roach addressed the students. “I really think that fashion gave me my life,” he said. “I am who I am because I just believed that I could be, and I challenge you guys to have that same belief.”
Honorees Ciara and Russell Wilson arrived alongside their children, Sienna and Future, in coordinated head-to-toe Willy Chavarria outfits—an apt choice for a night centered on legacy and the next generation. “Fashion is such a strong form of expression,” Ciara told Vogue as she was walking off the red carpet, pointing to the ways that today’s digital platforms have opened doors for emerging voices.