Virgil Abloh Scholarship Fund Established for Black British Students In Creative & Design Industries

Virgil Abloh Scholarship Fund Established for Black British Student In Creative & Design Industries

Virgil Abloh continues to make a difference across the fashion industry, even in the after-life.

The late fashion designer is being remembered by the Royal College of Art (RCA) with a scholarship fund for underrepresented groups in the creative and design industries.

Each year, an exceptionally bright, Black British student who faces financial hardship will receive the RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship.

Virgil Abloh founded Off-White in addition to serving as the menswear artistic director for Louis Vuitton. Prior to his passing, he had a strong bond with the RCA because he had joined as an honorary visiting professor in the organization’s first year.

Funding for the £35,000 ($40,404 USD) scholarship came from an unnamed American donor. It will pay the entire tuition for all postgraduate courses in the School of Design, including those in fashion, textiles, and design-related products. The typical tuition for these programs ranges from £14,175 to £33,200 ($16,369.29 to $38,339.36 USD). Additionally, the grant offers networking possibilities and industrial exposure.

Shannon Abloh, the late designer’s wife, commented on the scholarship:

“Over the years, the RCA and Virgil formed a beautiful relationship based on a shared appreciation of collaboration, creative vision, and of course, education. We know that the RCA Virgil Abloh scholarship will break down financial barriers to fulfilling creative potential and empower talented young individuals to dream even bigger.”

Virgil Abloh was a fervent supporter of equality in learning and education. In 2020, he pledged over $1 million to the Virgil Abloh™? “Post-Modern” scholarship fund, offering scholarships and job opportunities for Black students in America.

Abloh will be survived by his two children and wife, Shannon Sundberg, who he met in high school and married in 2009.

Abloh was of the Ewe ethnicity of the Volta region in Ghana. pic.twitter.com/7XnTS3Ruso

— Capital Moments (@CapitalMoments) November 28, 2021

In an online post at the time, he said,

“Systemic change starts at the grassroots level, from the collective efforts of people taking action and lifting up their own communities. I’m committed to helping ensure that this social revolution is not just a moment but a movement – and I am holding myself to task.”

Abloh died in November 2021 after secretly battling cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, for more than two years.

Since then, he has been remembered with a range of tributes, including songs, fashion shows, murals, and, of course, scholarships.

What are your thoughts on the RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship? Let us know in the comments!

[VIA]