Coach today announces its new scholarship in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, funded by the Coach Foundation. Introduced as part of the house’s Dream It Real initiative and its mission to help break cycles of inequality by empowering the next generation to reach their full potential through higher education, the Coach Dream It Real X CFDA Design Scholarship Award will support under-resourced students from underrepresented backgrounds studying fashion design.

“I know firsthand how transformative an education can be in helping young designers nurture their voice and find community,” said Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers. “I am honored today to recognize six incredibly inspiring students whose passion and creativity embody the future of fashion.”

The Coach Dream It Real x CFDA Design Scholarship Award will provide scholarships for six undergraduate students attending a four-year accredited undergraduate program who are pursuing a degree within any design specialization at one of the CFDA’s partner institutions. The scholarships will include $25,000 in financial support and mentorship to help each student discover their path. 

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the CFDA as part of our latest initiative in our Dream It Real program,” said Coach CEO Todd Kahn. “Together we share a commitment to support equity, inclusion and education, and we are proud to help the next generation of designers pursue their dreams.”

Coach and the CFDA are proud to announce the first recipients of the Coach Dream it Real x CFDA Design Scholarship Award, selected from 320 nationwide submissions: Hannah Harris, The Savannah College of Art and Design; Iyomi Ho Ken, School of Art Institute of Chicago; Charlie Kenney, Drexel University; Esther Park, Rhode Island School of Design; Junhyeong Park, Fashion Institute of Technology; Firas Zedan, Parsons School of Design.

Since the launch of Dream It Real in 2018, Coach and the Coach Foundation have donated over $20 million in financial and product donations as part of the program’s work partnering with nonprofits around the world that provide opportunity through access to higher education.

“In partnering with the Coach Foundation on the Coach Dream It Real x CFDA Design Scholarship Award, we are able to further strengthen our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and nurturing the next generation of fashion talent, including aspiring designers from underserved communities,” said CFDA CEO Steven Kolb. “Through this award, we genuinely hope to make many fashion dreams become real.”