The fashion industry faces a talent shortage that is leaving landmark centers for the sector (like Manhattan) struggling to maintain their prestigious reputations. However, retailers like Macy’s have developed new programs and initiatives to engage emerging talent, not only to bring them into their own pipelines but also to support the future health of the industry.
Through Macy’s Future of Style Fund and Mission Every One, the retailer has collaborated with Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) to elevate and empower emerging designers. As a result of this partnership, two students from FIT and FSF have created, produced and will sell exclusive capsule collections online through macys.com and at select locations nationwide.
The first winner was Shayla Pearson of FSF, who describes her fashion aesthetic as “a blend of storytelling, craftsmanship and innovation. I aim to create designs that are bold yet timeless, merging sustainable practices with statement pieces that resonate with cultural narratives.” In an interview with Retail TouchPoints, she noted that she takes an intentional approach to design by “combining traditional craft techniques with modern technologies. Whether it’s hand-painting prints, incorporating deadstock fabrics or exploring modular fashion concepts, I focus on creating garments that feel personal, meaningful and impactful.”
The second winner was Irene Alexandra Cubides of FIT, who draws inspiration from the “juxtaposition of nature and technology — two forces we coexist with and depend on,” she said in an interview with Retail TouchPoints. “I approach design as an ongoing dialogue between creativity and practicality. It is deeply rooted in research, experimentation and problem-solving. This process allows me to be intentional about what I create, ensuring that each piece not only functions properly, but also addresses fit challenges and everyday needs.”
Pearson and Cubides worked closely with a Macy’s design team to create exclusive collections. Pearson, who is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, created a product for Macy’s private label, Mode of One, which will be sold at the Herald Square store and online at macys.com. Cubides created an exclusive design for Bar III, another Macy’s private label, which will also debut at Herald Square and in 10 additional locations across California, Florida and Puerto Rico.
Reinforcing an Artistic Vision
Being an official student designer does not guarantee long-term business partnerships with the retailer, but Macy’s has a history of offering employment opportunities to participants, according to Emily Erusha-Hilleque, SVP of Private Brands for Macy’s.
Pearsons herself secured two recommendations for a design position at Macy’s, “which has opened exciting new career possibilities,” she said. She also was able to build a “meaningful relationship” with Paddy Lee Fashions, a family-owned manufacturing company.
While connections are great, especially for an industry as large (yet often like a small exclusive club) as retail, both winners emphasized that the program gave them access to experts, tools and systems that allowed them to expand their creative horizons and ultimately gain more assurance about their artistic vision.
“This experience has strengthened my confidence in designing for larger audiences while maintaining my unique aesthetic,” Pearsons said. “Macy’s provided invaluable mentorship and insight throughout the process, helping me refine my designs while staying true to my vision.”
Cupides agreed, adding: “This experience has given me both the confidence and the industry insights to take my career to the next level. Seeing my designs in Macy’s has reinforced that my vision is possible, which only fuels my motivation to keep going.”
Long-Term Community-Building Opportunities
The Future of Style Fund is part of Macy’s Mission Every One social purpose platform. Since its launch in 2022, the Fund has provided more than $2.3 million to students, “creating scholarships and mentorship opportunities, and supporting various fashion programs, incubators and competitions nationwide,” Erusha-Hilleque said in an interview with Retail TouchPoints. “This program, which at its core is built on collaboration, provides student designers with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to partner with fashion leaders and access resources to create these exclusive capsule collections. When creating your own initiative, always put collaboration first.”
Macy’s has a longstanding relationship with FSF and FIT, working with the organizations on various initiatives that give students exposure to what it really takes to design, create and sell a product successfully. However, the retailer’s relationship with the organizations deepened with the Future of Style Fund and it has gone on to forge new partnerships with Clark Atlanta University, SCAD, The New School and Austin Community College, among other schools and programs across the country.
Macy’s prioritizes partnering with organizations that “align with our mission to empower and uplift the next generation of designers, celebrate creativity, promote self-expression and prioritize great design,” Erusha-Hilleque said.
Advertisement
Inside the Macy’s Magic, from Concept to Completion
Student designers are hand-selected across these institutions by the social impact and private brands teams through a series of year-round competitions and submissions. For example, student designers from FIT are selected during the school’s annual Spring Fashion Show, Erusha-Hilleque explained: “Macy’s representatives on the judging panel are always looking for student design that complements our private brands and incorporates trends that our consumers are looking for.”
In Pearson’s case, she learned about the opportunity through the FSF x Macy’s Design Challenge, which she felt was “the perfect platform to challenge myself and expand my design skills,” she said. “I saw it as a chance to create something meaningful that blended my personal experiences with Macy’s rich heritage.”
Once winners are selected, they are immersed into the broader Macy’s organization. This year-long process includes hands-on mentorship experiences as well as “insights into the entire production pipeline, from concept to seeing their own designs sold on the floor and even on the website of one of the nation’s largest retailers,” Erusha-Hilleque said.
Over the course of a year, both Pearson and Cubides worked with Macy’s private brands team to design, develop and produce these exclusive capsule collections. “Throughout the experience, these student designers had the opportunity to gain real-world experience by working alongside mentors and having access to Macy’s facilities, providing invaluable ‘on the job’ resources for emerging designers,” Erusha-Hilleque added.
Both students emphatically agreed. “The capsule collection opportunity has provided me with invaluable hands-on experience in collaboration, production, and retail strategy,” Cupides said. “The lessons I’ve learned will continue to shape my journey as I grow my brand and navigate the fashion industry.”
Designing the Future of Fashion
Moving forward, Macy’s plans to further expand the Future of Style Fund by building partnerships with new fashion schools and further elevate emerging designers across the country. The retailer’s social impact and private label colleagues already are working with key partners to determine which looks will be used for 2026 capsule collections, Erusha-Hilleque revealed.
Now with their time at Macy’s officially behind them, Cubides and Pearson also are embarking on their own paths, helping chart the future of the fashion industry.
Cubides is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Fashion Management in Rome, where she’s learning about the European market and “gaining diverse industry experience,” she said. “I believe continuous learning is essential and alongside my studies, I continue to design and sew my own pieces, refining my craftsmanship and creative vision.” The ultimate goal? To grow her brand globally and continue to evolve as both a designer and an entrepreneur.
Pearson has a similar objective of expanding her clothing and accessories brand, Homas Official, into a “globally recognized label that continues to challenge norms in sustainable fashion,” she said. “I want to build a team that supports my creative vision and expand into new categories like accessories and home goods. Additionally, I’m passionate about increasing diversity and representation within the fashion industry, and I plan to create mentorship programs to support emerging designers, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds.”
