Luxury fashion house Gucci awards distinguished scholarship to Fashion student

Second-year Fashion student Theodora Etokimo recently turned heads when she captured the attention of the Gucci North America Changemakers Council Committee. Etokimo was one of 12 recipients of the Gucci North America Changemakers Scholarship in 2022, selected by the committee of industry royalty, including; supermodel Naomi Campbell, the rapper will.i.am, and designer Dapper Dan. 

The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students, who are pursuing careers in fashion and creative industries, to support them financially throughout their education. 

“Receiving this scholarship means that I have been offered a chance to continue my studies in comfort and stability,” Etokimo said. 

Since earning the scholarship, Etokimo’s work has been presented in the Museum of Contemporary Art of Detroit (MOCAD), Vogue, and Women’s Wear Daily. One of her artworks displayed, titled “A Spoon in the Mouth,” was created in the School of Fashion during the Design Literacy II course.

“This scholarship means that my art and design are understood. I often find myself second-guessing my design and art choices,” she explained. “Recognized for being myself meant a lot to me and helped me realize that I don’t need to change anything about my design and art methods.”

Embarking on a fashion journey with Gucci

Along with the scholarship, Etokimo had the opportunity to experience mentorship and a virtual internship with Gucci’s North American branch leadership team. Completed over a six-week session during the summer, Etokimo learned about the fashion industry under the guidance of Gucci’s expert team. The opportunity to receive mentorship from a high-fashion luxury brand is valuable for anyone pursuing a career in the industry. The session also provided hands-on experience working with a team and presenting a project to corporate professionals. 

“I learned so much; we discussed fashion industry issues related to law, security, merchandising, store development, and more,” she recalled. “We had to present a proposal to the corporate Gucci members. My group and I explored metaverse integration; we developed an AI device for online shopping within a digital world.” 

The AI device served as a virtual reality "world" within the metaverse called Gucci Beyond. It allows consumers to shop in the virtual space from the comfort of their homes. 

As a second-year student, Etokimo is already making strides to solidify her place as an up-and-coming designer to watch. She expressed her gratitude for the support from School of Fashion faculty and staff Brittany Patty, Communication and Reception Coordinator, Fashion Design Technician Audrey Colphon-Reynolds and lecturers Tricia Crivellaro and Joshua Williams and the resources they provide students. She is appreciative for the opportunities she’s had to showcase her work, a valuable practice for designers. 

Etokimo also shared some advice for students looking to pursue their passions in and out of a school setting. 

“There will come a time where you will need to revisit what you learned inside and outside of school,” she said. “Find activities and events to attend that will contribute to your university experience, and enjoy them.”

Check out Theodora’s Instagram @theoriginal.design (external link)  to see more of her work!

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