Renamed YMA Designates 2006 Honorees, Adds New Schools

NEW YORK – It’s been a busy year at YMA, beginning with a renaming of the organization to reflect its current mission. The new YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund replaces the Young Menswear Association, which dates back to 1971 when the organization and the industry were quite different.

The organization helps direct promising college students towards jobs in the fashion business through networking, scholarships, internships and other programs. Last year YMA awarded 124 scholarships to college seniors majoring in fashion, design, merchandising, textiles and business with a demonstrated desire to enter apparel related businesses. In addition, the internship committee was successful in finding opportunities for several of the scholars to work during the summer for member companies.

The annual YMA awards dinner, in January, has become among the largest events in the fashion industry. Last year’s event raised over $1.2 million, in addition to a $1 million grant from the Geoffrey Beene Foundation. All of this success has been the result of dedication and work by the mainly volunteer board of directors consisting of about 30 industry leaders. 

Paula Abdul

Honorees for the 2007 YMA Awards dinner next Jan. 10 are Paula Abdul, the entertainer and humanitarian; Ken Hicks, president and chief merchandising officer of J.C. Penney; and Karen Murray, group president of Liz Claiborne.

For more information about YMA or the upcoming awards dinner, call 212-594-6422. 

Major menswear industry figures, including Oxford’s Mike Setola and PVH’s Ken Wyse (pictured, left and right), were on hand for the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund Education Conference last week.  For more, click here for Schmoozing.