Sarah Sloan - LVMH FSF Case Study Scholarship Interest Webinar (Attending a General Interest Conference or Workshop: 3 points)

 

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) Case Study Scholarship Webinar, the organization’s signature program that challenges students to tackle real-world issues facing the fashion industry. Each year, the FSF develops a case study topic that reflects pressing challenges, ranging from sustainability and technology to inclusivity and brand innovation. Inviting students to think critically about how creativity can intersect with strategy and impact.

The webinar highlighted the ways in which the fashion industry is evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global landscape. Speakers discussed how brands are reimagining their practices to center sustainability, social responsibility, and digital innovation, emphasizing that fashion today must balance artistry with accountability.

What stood out to me most was the program’s focus on problem-solving through purpose. The FSF team encouraged participants to see fashion not just as an aesthetic pursuit, but as a platform for storytelling, identity, and change. Hearing from past scholarship winners, including Spelman's very own, Kennedy Hoyt, and industry leaders expanded my understanding of how fashion connects to larger social and economic systems. It challenged me to view the industry through a more analytical lens, recognizing how data, ethics, and creativity converge to drive meaningful innovation.

Attending the webinar was both inspiring and affirming. It deepened my appreciation for how thoughtful research and cultural awareness can transform an idea into a tangible solution. Personally, it reminded me of the importance of curiosity and continuous learning, two qualities that shape not only strong case studies but strong Black female professionals.

I also gained insight into how my communication and storytelling interests align with the fashion industry’s need for voices that can translate values into vision. The webinar reignited my confidence in approaching challenges with both creativity and critical thinking, while reinforcing the value of collaboration across disciplines.

The lessons from the FSF Case Study Scholarship webinar are applicable far beyond fashion. The emphasis on strategic problem-solving, cultural consciousness, and innovation mirrors the same principles that drive success in media, marketing, and communications, all of which I’m deeply passionate about.

Attending this webinar was a call to action, urging us as creative scholars to think deeply, innovate boldly, and engage meaningfully with the industries that influence our world.

By Sarah J. Sloan