Why Z Supply Turns Its Black Friday Sales Into Student Scholarships – Latest Fashion Trends & Style Tips November 11, 2025 at 07:15PM
📰 Why Z Supply Turns Its Black Friday Sales Into Student Scholarships
✨ Fashion Insights & Trends:
'Tis the season for Black Friday promotions inundating our inboxes and social media feeds. But Z Supply approaches the consumerist "holiday" differently: In lieu of digital doorbusters, the California-based apparel brand donates $300,000 of its Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday sales to the Z Supply Foundation, its philanthropic arm dedicated to empowering college students pursuing creative careers.
"The Z Supply Foundation's key goal is to support and inspire the next generation of creative talent by making design education more accessible and impactful," Mandy Fry, Z Supply's president and partner, tells Fashionista over email.
Z Supply isn't alone in opting out of Black Friday discounts, as many brands across the fashion and beauty spaces have rejected the holiday shopping frenzy. To name a few, Patagonia famously abstains in support of sustainable initiatives; U.K. lifestyle brand Adanola took a stance against the holiday in 2023; Veja has opted out since 2017 and natural fragrance house Abel shuts down its website as "a quiet protest against the breakneck pace of consumerism."
In addition to its established "no-discount policy" on its website, Z Supply decided to turn fashion's most transactional weekend into an opportunity to give back. "This campaign gives our online customers a chance to feel good about their purchases, knowing they directly support students' education," Fry says.
Photo: Courtesy of Z Supply
While searching for emerging talent to join the Z Supply team, the label decided to go right to the source: It zeroed in on fueling creative arts education by officially launching the Z Supply Foundation in 2021. As a FIDM alum, Fry personally understood the financial challenges associated with a creative education and sought to alleviate those roadblocks for today's students. Since its inception, the Z Supply Foundation has raised $1.2 million for educational and community-focused programs, with nearly $875,000 going directly to scholarship initiatives.
To raise awareness, Z Supply shares its Education Fund across all of its marketing channels and through national media outreach. Its existing partnerships with universities and art programs also boost the brand's visibility among college-aged shoppers (and potential scholarship winners). Z Supply further inspires others to get involved by spotlighting the real stories of its scholarship recipients and how the award has shaped their lives.
"Marketing-wise, [the scholarship program] sets Z Supply apart by choosing purpose over promotions and by connecting with customers who care about making a difference," Fry shares. "It also allows us to build authentic relationships with college students who are just beginning to discover their personal style and passions."
Each year, the Z Supply Foundation awards between 15 and 25 scholarships to students across its partner schools, which include Otis College of Art and Design, California College of the Arts, California State University Long Beach College of the Arts, Parsons School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design and Kansas City Art Institute. "We chose to partner with these institutions because they share our foundation's values and commitment to fostering creativity, innovation and access to education," Fry says. To date, the Z Supply Foundation has awarded 78 scholarships within four years.
One of the main criteria for a Z Supply Foundation scholarship is financial need: "Our goal has been to support students who might otherwise feel uncertain about pursuing a degree in the creative arts due to the high costs often associated with these programs," Fry shares. Scholarship recipients are selected by the Z Supply Foundation's partner colleges, with other baseline criteria including a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a "commitment to diversity."
Photo: Courtesy of Z Supply
But Z Supply's student support doesn't end once the scholarship check clears. "We stay engaged with students throughout their college journey by offering mentorship, guidance and internship opportunities to help them gain real-world experience and pursue their passions within the creative industry," Fry notes.
Case in point: Melanie Vo, a graphic design BFA student at California State University, Long Beach, won a Z Supply Foundation scholarship in 2024 and later interned on the label's creative team this summer. Vo says the opportunity "strengthened [her] passion for graphic design and its role in the fashion industry".
"Knowing that a major company like Z Supply recognizes and supports my potential has encouraged me to take creative risks and refine my craft," Vo continues. "It's reminded me that my work has value and that I'm capable of contributing to the creative industry in meaningful ways."
Receiving the Z Supply Foundation scholarship in 2022 also opened up opportunities for Isaac Morcarski, an Otis College of Art & Design MFA graphic design graduate. "When I won the scholarship, it felt like the universe was telling me I was on the right path," Morcarski reflects.
Photo: Courtesy of Z Supply
Backed by the scholarship's funding, Morcarski continued his education as a fellow at the Gullkistan Center for Creativity in Iceland. Across the Atlantic, Morcarski created his own curriculum around the fundamentals of printmaking and taught screen-printing classes at the local grade schools. His time in Iceland even inspired the name of his personal studio practice: Nýtthús (New House) Design Studio.
"Many of our scholarship recipients graduate better prepared to pursue opportunities in design, marketing and other creative fields and are better set up for long-term success in turning their passion into a profession," Fry shares.
As this year's Black Friday creeps ever closer, the Z Supply Foundation is focused on expanding its scholarship program by identifying new college partners and strengthening its relationships with current collaborators.
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