CCA Students Win 2026 CFDA Fashion Scholarships
Two California College of the Arts fashion design students, Jane Eunchong Lee and September Zheng, have been awarded 2026 scholarships from the Council of
Jane Eunchong Lee and September Zheng, both fashion design students at the California College of the Arts (CCA), have received 2026 scholarships from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Lee won the CFDA x Veronica Beard Creative Futures Scholarship, while Zheng was awarded the 2026 Next Thread Initiative Scholarship.
The CFDA, founded in 1962, runs industry and student programs to support American fashion designers and emerging talent. The scholarships recognize outstanding student work and provide financial support for their continued studies.
Jane Eunchong Lee's Knitwear Focus
Jane Eunchong Lee's scholarship-winning work explores themes of femininity and belonging through knitwear. Her project, Feminine Authenticity, investigates desirability and the performance of femininity, focusing on what she calls the “unseen female experience.” She draws inspiration from fruit seeds, using natural imagery to honor womanhood.
Lee developed these ideas further in a collection titled Secret Garden. This work uses an imagined garden as a “mentalscape” for experiences overlooked by society. The collection incorporates Fair Isle jacquard, floral silhouettes, lace, ruffles, scalloped edges, and layered sheerness.
The award holds personal significance for Lee. "I grew up fascinated by my mother’s knitting," she says. Receiving a scholarship tied to this craft makes her feel like things have come full circle. She is currently interning with Veronica Beard in New York City for the summer before returning to CCA to develop knitwear for her senior thesis.
September Zheng's Sustainable Materials
September Zheng's scholarship recognizes his work with sustainable biomaterials. His Bioplastic Project began with an interest in the appearance of plastic and a desire to create a more sustainable alternative. He developed a biodegradable, water-soluble bioplastic from agar-agar and gelatin.
Zheng experimented extensively with the material's translucency, structure, and construction. He embraced the learning process, noting that failures provided guidance. "What went wrong gave me advice for listening to the material," Zheng states. He sees vast potential, adding "there are just so many more possibilities to play around with."
The scholarship has encouraged him to continue his experiments and to help bring more people into the biomaterials field. Zheng credits CCA and other communities with influencing him to embrace new materials and techniques. His approach is to proceed despite uncertainty. "I just need to do it scared and bad, and that will tell me what I need to change to make it good," he says.
Future Plans for the Scholars
Looking ahead, both students plan to use the scholarship support to advance their senior thesis projects. Lee will continue developing her knitwear collection upon returning from her internship. Zheng aims to further refine his bioplastic material for his senior collection while connecting with others in sustainable textiles.
The CFDA scholarships provide critical funding and recognition at a key point in their academic careers. The awards validate their creative directions and support their continued exploration at CCA.
