A new generation of fashion creatives is about to make their mark on the world.
Colm Dillane, founder of the streetwear brand KidSuper, welcomed the 2026 Fashion Scholarship Fund scholars, including 60 Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholars, at his studio on Sunday, March 22. The group of 160 students, recognized for their talents in fashion design, creative, marketing, and business, gathered to connect, mingle, and hear from Dillane. In addition, each scholar’s work was shown throughout the KidSuper studio in Williamsburg so the guests could experience what their peers are doing in the fashion space.
Kuan Jackson, a Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholar who attends Clark Atlanta University, was awarded the $25,000 Chairman’s Award. Additional finalists for the award were Rylee Funfsinn of Savannah College of Art and Design; Justin Le of The University of Texas at Austin; and Madison-Jade Bishop, a Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholar at Drexel University.
During the event, Dillane spoke about the ups and downs of a career in the fashion world, including embracing failure and learning from it. “The failures have been really fun and to be honest, I kind of brand them as, ‘Isn’t this hilarious how much we failed? And we kept going?'” he said in his speech. “It’s a KidSuper story. I call it tripping forward.” He also emphasized the importance of staying motivated in a career that can feel uncertain and ever-changing. “My perspective on fashion has always been that it is such a privilege,” the founder shared. “If you look at it like that, it changes your perspective and motivation—for me, it’s, ‘Oh I GET to do this, I GET to try that’. That motivates me.”
Dillane encouraged the attendees to connect with one another not just as friends, but also as potential collaborators. “You’re all young, you are into the same thing, you should get each other’s numbers, you should try to collaborate as much as possible, you should take as many risks as humanly possible,” he shared. “You’re in college. It’s the perfect time.”
The Fashion Scholarship Fund awards over $1.9 million in scholarships to students who are interested in being part of the fashion world, whether that’s design and product development or merchandising and marketing. In addition, the Fund helps connect students to career opportunities, mentorship, and more. The Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund was established by the designer in 2020 to expand fashion-industry opportunities for students who identify as Black or African American and “reflect the creativity, curiosity, and progressive spirit that drive this work forward.”
Congratulations to the 2026 scholars!