Gap & Harlem’s Fashion Row announce ‘Closing the Gap’ winners

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Jun 22, 2021

Gap Inc. and Harlem’s Fashion Row announced on Monday the winners of the 'Closing the Gap' scholarships, awarded to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). 

The 10 winning fashion departments will receive financial awards from a pool of $510,000, making this the largest donation to HBCUs fashion programs by a major retailer. The initiative aims to strengthen educational opportunities for the next generation of Black fashion leaders and provide a platform that empowers Black students within the fashion industry.

The award recipients include two scholarships of $100,000 to North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T; Five scholarships of $50,000 to Delaware State University, Howard University, Bowie State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Tennessee State; and three scholarships of $20,000 to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Clark Atlanta University and Norfolk State University.

"It is a great honor for us to partner with a global leader in the fashion world to kick off the inaugural awards ceremony that will turn into a yearly event,” said Brandice Daniel, founder and CEO of Harlem's Fashion Row.

“We are coming together as one to not only address pipeline issues of diversity and inclusion in the industry but also to help give them tools and guidance the next generation needs to take the fashion industry to new heights.”

Last week, HFR launched its inaugural ‘Fashion Playbook,’ sponsored by Gap Inc. and targeted at youth, middle and high school, and college level. The Playbook is an online video content library featuring stories, tips, and insight from fashion industry professionals to create awareness of the vast opportunities that exist in the industry. Of the 22 videos to be released in the next year, seven Gap Inc. employees will be featured.