Olivia Meyer, a senior Honors College fashion merchandising student, has won the Chairman's Award for the Fashion Scholarship Fund 2024 Case Study Competition. Meyer competed against hundreds of other applicants across the country, creating an ESG-focused case study for the brand Sheertex. Her case received the highest score in the merchandising category from industry judges. In March, she pitched her case study to the industry judges. Olivia received the Chairman's Award at the FSF Gala in New York City on April 8, earning a total scholarship of $25,000.
"I would like to extend a huge thank you to my mentor for this case-study competition, Dr. Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing; she is an incredible human being," said Olivia. "In this competition and in life, you do not get anywhere alone, and I am eternally grateful to the Kent State University School of Fashion for bringing us together. I would not be where I am today without her, and I hope I can be a mentor, like her, to others someday."
“One Leg Up On ESG: That’s So Sheertex” explores Sheertex, through competitor, market, and consumer analyses, she developed a launch that aligned with the brand's values while speaking authentically to the consumer. “To combat unnecessary waste, overconsumption and resource depletion” Meyer suggests, in her case study, that Sheertex adds a new product to their name, single leg tights. Another key element of the launch was an initiative to reach out to consumers living with one leg. This would also establish Sheertex’s commitment to inclusivity and socially responsible fashion. Other initiatives suggest learning from competitors and improving upon best practices.
“The competition each year provides students an opportunity to stretch their skills and really focus on an area of interest to them. There is so much flexibility and creativity in the case studies that can be provided, that it allows students to explore and apply the skills they have learned here in so many different directions,” said Assistant Professor Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing, Ph.D. “For Olivia to earn the top merchandising honor is incredible and showcases her dedication to her work and exceptional critical thinking skills. It is truly an honor for the School of Fashion at Kent State to be represented this way, in front of so many industry movers and shakers, and other schools across the country.”
ABOUT THE FASHION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Fashion Scholarship Fund is the foremost fashion-oriented education and workforce development nonprofit in the U.S. The FSF works directly with the country's most talented young students from diverse backgrounds and awards over $1 million each year in scholarships to help these students succeed in all sectors of the industry, including design, merchandising, marketing analytics and supply chain.