Otis College of Art and Design is proud to announce that Fashion Design senior Maria Andrea (“Tico”) Conde-Porto has been named a 2022 Fashion Scholarship Fund recipient, and will be honored at a celebration at the Glasshouse in New York City on April 11.
Conde-Porto currently is working under Fashion Design mentor Kevan Hall and will present her designs this May at O-Launch ’22, in a public fashion show that will be held on Saturday, May 14. Last year, she was part of the junior students mentored by Guess clothing company.
“The amount of work we put into our projects and into our careers does not go unnoticed by faculty in the Fashion department. They understand the pressure that is put on us as students, as well as the pressure we put on ourselves to achieve monumental things,” says Conde-Porto. “When great things happen to any of us, it’s a celebration for all. Being a recipient of the Fashion Scholarship Fund has truly been a pleasure and an honor. Receiving this award has opened doors for me in the industry in unparalleled ways. The fashion industry is one that is heavily reliant on people and the connections those people form. I am truly grateful to have the support and generosity of FSF as I embark on my career beyond Otis.”
Founded in 1937, the Fashion Scholarship Fund is an education and career development nonprofit organization that awards over $1 million each year in scholarships to help students of diverse backgrounds succeed in all sectors of the fashion industry, including design, merchandising, marketing analytics, and supply chain. It is the oldest fashion- and career development-oriented education nonprofit in the United States.
In addition to monetary aid, the FSF also supports scholarship recipients with internship, career, mentoring, networking, and professional development opportunities, and access to fashion industry leaders and companies. Awardees also become part of the FSF Alumni Association and are invited to monthly professional development opportunities. This year’s scholarships are supported by Levi’s, LVMH, Nike, Coach, and Macy’s, among many other prestigious fashion and apparel brands.
This year, the FSF had a total of 459 case study submissions, and 123 applicants were awarded scholarships ranging from $7,500 to $17,500. For this year’s case study, students were asked to create a collection of either apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty or health and wellness products that address the needs of post COVID-19 consumers. The submission process is a rigorous one, with months of preparation and research to create an in-depth study focused on current challenges facing the fashion industry.
In Conde-Porto’s case study, “Second Life,” she presented ideas for “a sustainable clothing line that would use clothing donations from Goodwill and transform them into modern renditions.”
“The Fashion department congratulates Tico Conde-Porto for her outstanding accomplishment on the prestigious 2022 Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) competition. As a FSF Scholar, Tico is joining a community of future leaders, with access to industry mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities,” say Fashion Design Chair Jill Zeleznik and Assistant Chair Mitra Rajabi on behalf of the department. “Commitment, paired with an intense drive to push forward her own boundaries, have earned Tico the highest accolades from both faculty and peers. Tico is open to diving deep for solutions to address the challenges facing today’s fashion industry. Her natural curiosity, imagination and enthusiasm have allowed Tico to master not only the technical skills needed to manifest her ideas, but also the creative expression of her design concepts.”
Images courtesy of Maria Andrea Tico Conde-Porto and Otis College Fashion Design program.