The John Bowman Memorial Scholarship Fund
John L. Bowman, who died in March of 2016 after fighting a courageous battle with brain cancer, was a pioneer in the Intimate Apparel Industry.
He dedicated 27 years to the initial launch and success of Wacoal America and, later in his career, was a partner at Dana-co LLC working with the Natori brand.
He went on to establish John Bowman & Associates, where he provided his years of experience and expertise to numerous companies globally. He developed and built brands like he lived his life … never accepting that anything was impossible and always pushing forward despite the odds. His legacy is to be found in the success of so many industry professionals who benefitted from his mentoring.
The John Bowman Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2017 through the generous contributions of John’s industry friends, will keep John’s memory alive by providing much needed financial support to the most deserving of merchandising students.
The 2019 Recipient
Jordan Whiteman, LIM College
I am currently a junior at LIM College, studying fashion merchandising on the buying and planning track. I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts where I danced for 14 years. My love for dance played a major role in my love for fashion, and I was exposed to the glitz and glam at a young age due to dance recitals. Through my dance career, I traveled to New York a lot and I knew by middle school that this is where I wanted to end up.
Fast forward to today where each day I am more and more inspired by this city and the fashion industry. LIM has played a vital role in my success thus far and I owe a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey. I had the opportunity to study abroad in London for a week this past summer with a group of LIM students and we compared and contrasted retailing in New York and London. I attend the National Retail Federation’s Big Show each January (through LIM’s partnership with the NRF,) and am Co-President of the NRF Student Association.
My goal is to be the best planner or buyer that I can be. I have loved hearing guest speakers and professors talk about their experience, and each story I hear makes me more excited for the future. The retail industry is constantly changing and pursuing a career is a challenge that could not be accomplished without the assistance of the Underfashion Club and for that, I am extremely grateful.
The Mary Krug Memorial Scholarship Fund
Mary Krug was Vice President and Division Merchandise Manager for Neiman Marcus Stores, a division of Neiman Marcus Group.
Mary personified excellence, and she truly was the best of the best. When she died in 2013, Mary left a great legacy in the countless buyers, assistant buyers and vendors that she trained and educated over the years.
A group of industry executives – men and women who knew Mary well – committed to establish a scholarship in her memory for students of fashion merchandising. What began as a single scholarship is now a scholarship fund that will carry Mary’s name and devotion to education years into the future.
The 2019 Recipient
Christina Bechtel, LIM College
Christina Bechtel is a junior marketing student at LIM College in the Fashion Scholars Honors Program. She is also a part of the Student Leadership Council and the Student Mentor Program. Originally from Seattle, WA she is thrilled to be living and working in New York City and learning as much as possible while doing so.
Christina has always dreamt of living in NYC and working in the fashion business industry and is constantly preparing for her career in the field. With three internships in social media, marketing, & events under her belt, she is currently a marketing intern at a media company to learn more about the conversations of the industry and the moving parts behind the scenes. Christina hopes to work in the analytical side of the industry, utilizing social media and optimization tools to spark and facilitate the discussion of the industry’s most important topics and combine the art and business of the industry.
The Eileen West Memorial Scholarship Fund
Eileen West, industry icon, famed designer and Femmy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, died in September of 2017 after a brief illness.
Eileen possessed that rare combination of insight, intelligence and genuine humility. Her positive energy and thoughtful, kind, generous spirit infused her life and work.
Best known for her distinctive sleepwear collections, Eileen reintroduced all-natural gowns and robes to the American market in the 1970s. “In the heyday of polyester and nylon, she offered the natural alternatives of cotton, silk and rayon, a proposition buyers initially scoffed at,” recalled Laney Thornton, her longtime business partner and co-founder of the Eileen West brand.
A memorial scholarship fund in her name was established in 2018, made possible through the generous contributions of Eileen’s many industry friends, most notably KOMAR and the Laney Thornton Foundation. The Underfashion Club is honored to have been chosen to administer the fund that bears her name; and will keep her memory alive by providing much needed financial support to the most deserving of intimate apparel student for many years to come.
Information on the first Eileen West Memorial Scholarship recipient will be posted shortly.
The 2019 Recipient
Coming soon
2019 Dash Scholarship Recipient
Daniella Chaviano
Daniella Chaviano is a fashion design student at Design & Architecture Senior High who grew up in Central Florida with a father whom, as both a sculptor and tattoo artist, has nurtured her to cultivate her love for illustration and fashion construction.
Her family moved to Miami to support her father in opening a tattoo shop. Miami’s hustle and bustle has made a great impact on her designs. Growing up around the two contrasting scenes (suburbia and tattoos) she is able to express herself in a manner that fits both norms, while also staying true to her signature style.
Daniella’s lingerie designs were inspired by the Victorian era and the idea of pure elegance. She translates this into contemporary fabrics and silhouettes to keep up with the everyday modern woman. She makes each individual design versatile, while keeping the purity of the inspiration.