Carolina Herrera’s Fashion Scholarship at FIT Enters Its Third Year

In the ever-evolving world of fashion, education remains a critical gateway to opportunity. For three years, the Carolina Herrera Social Justice Scholars Program —an initiative under ‘Carolina Herrera for Women in the Arts’— has sought to open that gateway wider. Established in 2022 in partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, the scholarship is designed to support women pursuing careers in fashion, providing them with four years of tuition, mentorship, and hands-on experience through internships and apprenticeships at Carolina Herrera.

The house’s relationship with FIT is longstanding—The Museum at FIT holds the largest external collection of Carolina Herrera’s archives, and Mrs. Herrera herself has mentored many students over the years.

"There's no better way to lift up the next generation of entrepreneurs and designers than through education and empowerment," Mrs. Herrera has said of the initiative.

Now in its third year, the program has welcomed Asha Bryant as its latest scholar. She joins Jasmin Mendoza, who enrolled in 2023, and Paloma Sánchez Maria, the inaugural recipient, who now apprentices with the Carolina Herrera design team in New York.

"Carolina Herrera and FIT both believe that knowledge is power," says Carolina Herrera’s Creative Director, Wes Gordon.

Beyond the classroom, the scholars have also connected with other recipients of the ‘Carolina Herrera for Women in the Arts’ initiative. Recently, they met with students from France’s Kourtrajmé film school, a creative that aims to democratize filmmaking education. Together, they exchanged ideas, discussed their creative journeys, and formed bonds.

By bridging education, mentorship, and professional opportunities, the Carolina Herrera Social Justice Scholars Program continues to support the next generation of women in fashion—one scholar at a time.