Programs

ABLOH AIR is a 10-month immersive program designed to empower underrepresented young creatives – specifically rising high school seniors (ages 17-18).Launched in Chicago in 2024, the program provides mentorship, global exposure, and hands-on training with the goal of exposing young creatives to the full spectrum of creative careers and help them envision a future in the arts, design, and innovation. Grounded in its commitment to equity and creative access, ABLOH AIR centers its work around four key objectives:

• Break systemic barriers through representation, access, and opportunity
• Connect participants with creative industry leaders
• Provide global and cultural exposure experiences
• Deliver skill-building through mentorship, workshops, and capstone projects

ABLOH AIR reflects Virgil’s belief in access, possibility, and redefining the creative landscape for future generations.Applications are currently closed for Flight 002, the third ABLOH AIR cohort.For more information on how you can become an ABLOH AIR partner or get information about the next application cycle, email programs@thevirgilablohfoundation.com.

The Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund was established at the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) in 2020 by Virgil Abloh and his family. The Fund was created to expand opportunities in the fashion industry by providing scholarships to students who identify as Black or African American and those who reflect the creativity, curiosity, and progressive spirit that drive this work forward. Virgil named the fund “Post-Modern” to signify that recipients would not only receive funds, but also ongoing career-support services and mentoring through the FSF.By establishing the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, Virgil partnered with the FSF to build a vehicle for his legacy, intended to make an important and ongoing mark on the fashion industry by supporting the talented young adults who would follow in his footsteps. Virgil played a direct and hands-on role in creating the experience of each Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholar. He devoted his time and energy abundantly, spending hours with Scholars and hundreds of Scholar applicants from across the U.S.In 2024, FSF and the Virgil Abloh Foundation leadership announced an ambitious goal to double the number of students served from 30 to 60 as a part of a collaboration designed to accelerate impact. In April 2024, the FSF announced 60 new Virgil Abloh Post Modern Scholars and the organization plans to continue expanding the number of students served year over year.For more information about the Virgil Abloh Post Modern Scholarship, visit www.fashionscholarshipfund.org/virgil-abloh.

Having joined as an Honorary Visiting Professor in 2020, Virgil held a close relationship with the Royal College of Art (RCA). He embodied the RCA’s spirit of collaboration and ingenuity, and hoped to enable students from across the college to benefit from his wealth of experience as a leading figure in international fashion and design.The Virgil Abloh Scholarship was established with the support of Shannon Abloh and The Virgil Abloh Foundation and aims to recognise Virgil’s support for education, his career-long ethos of using his practice to create social change and his position as a renowned champion for equality of opportunity across the creative industries.The prestigious annual scholarship applies to all areas of the RCA School of Design postgraduate study including Fashion, Textiles, Design Products, Service Design and Intelligent Mobility among other innovative courses. The 2023 Virgil Abloh Scholarship was awarded to Oghenerume Egbeniyoko, who continues to be supported by the initiative as he enters his second year of study on the RCA’s MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering programme.In 2024, the RCA and Virgil Abloh Foundation announced that MA Textiles student Tyreis Holder has been awarded the scholarship for 2024. This scholarship opportunity is administered through the Royal College of Art. Please visit the Royal College of Arts website for information regarding eligibility, application procedures, and deadlines.

The Open Access Program is the Virgil Abloh Foundation’s commitment to expanding access, equity, and opportunity across all VAF programming – from ABLOH AIR to future creative experiences, activations, and learning opportunities.Open Access was first piloted through ABLOH AIR’s 2025 programming, where local students nominated by partner organizations participated in site visits and creative sessions alongside the core Flight 000 cohort in London and Paris. This pilot demonstrated the transformative power of broadening participation and laid the groundwork for integrating Open Access as a key pillar across all Foundation initiatives.Key Features

• Invites broader participation in VAF programs through nominations by community partners
• Engages local students in creative opportunities such as site visits, workshops, and lectures
• Prioritizes underrepresented young creatives, particularly BIPOC youth and those without prior industry access
• Participation is free of charge, with travel support available upon request

Learning and Experiential Outcomes

• Expands access to world-class creative learning experiences
• Builds a global, cross-cultural community of emerging creatives
• Fosters long-term equity and inclusion across creative industries

Open Access reflects VAF’s commitment to breaking down barriers and inspiring the next generation of creative leaders – building a future where access is not limited by background, geography, or circumstance.There are no current Open Access programs scheduled. Please check back soon for future programming.For more information on how you can become an Open Access partner or get information about the open access program, email programs@thevirgilablohfoundation.com.

The Creator Series is a virtual learning experience that connects emerging creatives with leading creative professionals across disciplines and geographies. Designed to demystify the creative industry and inspire confidence, each session is hosted by a different visionary – offering a behind-the-scenes look into their careers, creative process, and lessons learned along the way.Key Features

• Live virtual sessions led by creative professionals across fashion, art, design, and media
• Focus on practical, real-world topics like networking, feedback, and collaboration
• Open dialogue with time dedicated to Q&A and participant engagement
• Space to build community, share ideas, and develop professional tools

Impact

• Expands career imagination and creative confidence
• Builds a global network of peer and mentor connections
• Fosters self-awareness, collaboration, and leadership skills
• Reinforces the value of authenticity, resilience, and curiosity in creative practice

The VAF Creator Series was piloted with the Abloh AIR program and delivered 10 custom online learning sessions from 2024-2025. The program now aims to expand globally and reflects Virgil Abloh’s belief in the power of mentorship, lived experience, and access to industry voices – ensuring the next generation of creatives is seen, heard, and supported. Access to Creator Series coming soon!

Prior to his passing, Virgil Abloh created FREE GAME, a free, online resource center to support young creatives and their brands in their earliest phases. The concept of “free game” is one you can play at no cost and he wanted to ensure access to critical information for young people trying to create something and to democratize fashion and make it more accessible for all. He labeled it as a “mass form of mentorship” for Black POC and all those that are interested. Free Game is the closest thing to “passing the baton” that Virgil publicly communicated and distributed and was based on things that helped him succeed in his own career. Visit https://free-game.virgilabloh.com/ to access these resources.

As a VAF Youth Impact Partner, the Vault is collaborating with the Virgil Abloh Foundation to offer The Vault 360 Program during the 2025-2026 school year.The Vault is a student organization at UW-Madison that offers a fresh perspective on the fashion industry, emphasizing its fusion with business, technology, marketing, communications, and more.The Vault 360 offers a unique, multi-faceted experience that blends mentorship, creative learning, and immersive behind-the-scenes access to the world of fashion production through three integrated pathways – The Vault EDU, The Vault Exchange, and The Vault Backstage. Each pathway is designed to inspire, empower, and equip young creatives to explore potential career paths in fashion, design, and the arts. While some aspects center around the fashion show put on by The Vault team in Winter 2025, and attended by foundation participants, including ABLOH AIR Flight 001, the program at large aims to expose high school-aged students to a wide range of creative pathways.01. The Vault EDU: an opportunity for high school-aged students to participate in production meetings live and asynchronously, learning about all dimensions of the production (fashion design, operations, management, lighting, sound, set, marketing, budget, etc.). Students gain exposure and experience what it takes to put on a full show at this scale.02. The Vault Exchange: This program component is an opportunity for ABLOH AIR Flight 001 students to closely shadow a near-peer and discuss creative pathways out of high school, with light structure and touchpoints to ensure both parties find the experience valuable. Mentors will share advice and support mentees with projects from January – June 2026, and accompanied them on their visit to UW-Madison in Winter 2025.03. The Vault Backstage: Guided behind-the-scenes opportunities for ABLOH AIR Flight 001 and VAF Open Access students to experience The Vault fashion show production in person. Ahead of the show, students will show up in Madison for clearly outlined