CENTRIC BRANDS SPONSORS 2022 FASHION SCHOLARSHIP FUND SCHOLARS

November 28, 2022

This year, Centric Brands sponsored two Fashion Scholarship Fund Recipients to support the next generation of young talent through internship and career development opportunities, mentorship, and networking. The Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) is the foremost fashion-oriented education and workforce development nonprofit in the U.S. 

We sat down with Centric Brands FSF Scholar Taylor Heilman to discuss how the program has impacted her career in the fashion industry.

What inspired you to pursue a career within the fashion industry?

I’ve always been interested in fashion and knew at a young age that I wanted a career in it. I enjoyed clothes shopping and watching shows like Project Runway. As I got older, I was amazed at all the different opportunities there are in the industry and wanted to continue to develop my passion for apparel. 

How did being a Fashion Scholarship Fund Recipient shape you personally?

Being a FSF Scholar has helped shape me academically and professionally. Some aspects of the case study were things I had never done before.  Working through them was a new but exciting challenge. The project helped me discover some of my strengths that I will continue to use throughout my career. 

What piece of advice would you pass on to future Fashion Scholarship Fund recipients? 

Take advantage of the opportunities you will have to network with some incredible people within the industry and your fellow scholars as well! Whether that is connecting over LinkedIn or having a conversation at the FSF gala in New York, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone if you’d like to learn more about their company or role. Also, be proud of your hard work on the case study! It’s a great accomplishment to add to your resume and talk about in job interviews. 

In what ways has the FSF program prepared you for future job opportunities/impacted your current career? 

Participating in the case study competition taught me so much about the industry and allowed me to work on skills that I use in my current role. My case study was on girl’s apparel, which happens to be the area I work in now. I know that the work I did in the case study will be beneficial to any role I have in the future, and I now belong to an incredible network of scholars and professionals that can help in my career development. 

What topics are you passionate about in fashion?

I’m passionate about inclusivity in the fashion industry, in all aspects from product offerings to marketing campaigns. I believe that everyone should have access to apparel that fits their needs and makes them feel welcomed. I also enjoy seeing all the technological innovation in the industry, such as virtual reality, that enhances the customer shopping experience.