Applications for the 2026 Vilcek Foundation Prizes for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture and Fashion & Design are now open to immigrants under the age of 38. The Vilcek Foundation will award six $50,000 prizes to young immigrants who have demonstrated exceptional early career achievements in the fields of Fashion & Design and Fashion & Culture.
Fashion is a reflection of cultural shifts and serves as a powerful form of self-expression. From hair and clothing to jewelry and makeup, fashion trends speak volumes about a time and place in society. Immigrants enrich the fashion industry by contributing their unique traditions, perspectives, and styles.
Through the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Fashion, the foundation aims to bring awareness to the many ways fashion — and the immigrants working in fashion-related fields — make our society better.
“Winning [this prize] was an incredible honor and a deeply personal milestone,” says Siki Im, winner of the 2015 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion. “It recognized not only my creative journey but also the unique perspective I bring as an immigrant in the fashion industry. Today, as barriers seem more prevalent, the Vilcek Prize serves as a powerful reminder and mediator of who built and continues to push the United States forward — a nation shaped by the talent, creativity, and resilience of immigrants.”
The Vilcek Foundation has created two fashion categories to expand the number of awards given to immigrants in the arts and humanities. Immigrants 38 years of age or younger who work in the following fashion fields are encouraged to apply:
Fashion & Design
- Designers
- Environmental and Technology Designers
- Material Innovation Experts
- Makeup Artists / Hair Stylists
Fashion & Culture
- Writers and Researchers
- Curators and Museum Professionals
- Stylists
- Image Makers
Applications will be accepted through June 9, 2025.
To learn more and apply, visit vilcek.org.
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