Detroit Fashion Designers, Gucci Changemakers Launches Fourth Chapter Applications

The fourth chapter of Gucci Changemakers North America, titled “Designing a Future Untold,” has opened applications for young designers, filmmakers, artists, and overall creatives to build futures that might be unfathomable now but possible with the work they continue to do.

Gucci’s Commitment to Detroit

The Gucci Changemakers Impact Fund and Scholarship Fund will award twelve students up to $20,000 and twelve organizations up to $1 million in grants. Organizations that focus on community. The main cities focused on include Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Miami.

Since its founding, the program has given over 50 scholarship funds to students and over 40 grants, and recipients have taken those funds to go on to create and expand their brands, non-profit organizations, and art practices. Some have even shown their artwork in museums and exhibitions, while others have built larger revenue for their clothing lines. Recipients in the past have built mental health initiatives for Black women in Chicago and provided resources for artists in Detroit and New York City. 

The Gucci Changemakers

The Gucci Changemakers Scholars program is an annual open call for applications for diverse graduating high school seniors; currently enrolled undergraduate students attending an accredited four-year college or university pursuing a bachelor’s degree and students attending accredited two-year community college programs within North America are welcome to apply. The scholarships are based on unmet financial needs. Special consideration will be given to students who live or study in one of the 12 Gucci Changemakers cities– Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington DC or plan to attend or currently attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). In addition, the Changemakers Scholars program is open to students interested in design and marketing, art, film, communications, fashion law, merchandising, and other creative-related fields. The award will be for up to $20,000 for one year.

Applications are open Now and are due on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 11:59 pm EST.

Application Materials

• Essay response (300 words): How will you use your talents and creativity to design a future untold?
• Creative portfolio: One PDF attachment with no more than three pages highlighting your interest in fashion or creativity. The portfolio should respond to the prompt: Designing a Future Untold. The portfolio can include original designs, sketches, photographs, or mood boards. 
• Student Biography (not to exceed 150 words): Provide an overview of who you are, your interests, and your goals for the future. 
• Applicant Video (two-to-three minutes): Tell us more about who you are, your creative interests, goals, and dreams for the future, and how the Gucci Changemakers Scholars award will help you.

Application and Review Timeline

Application Open: Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Application Closing: Friday, February 3, 2023
Scholarship Recipients Selected and Notified: Summer, 2023
Public Announcement: Summer, 2023