New York, New York, United States
A visionary and highly respected leader, Peter Arnold is the Executive Director of the Fashion Scholarship Fund, the fashion industry’s foremost education and workforce development nonprofit in the U.S. The FSF identifies and fosters the next generation of fashion industry talent, with a focus on students from underrepresented backgrounds. Since 2018, Peter has driven continuous and transformational change at the organization, elevating FSF’s reputation with new relevance and renewed purpose. As a champion of an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future, Peter manages partnerships with supporters, sponsors, donors, educational institutions, and foundations to provide best-in-class opportunities to up-and-coming talent, and meaningful connections and insights for industry leaders. With programs such as the Virgil Abloh™ “Post Modern” Scholarship Fund, and Named Scholarships from across the industry with partners including Saks Global, Skims, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Ralph Lauren, and Levi’s Strauss & Co., he has established new paradigms that elevate the industry’s future workforce. Peter also regularly engages a diverse set of educators across 75 institutions in support of FSF’s academic mission, and recently designed and launched FSF University to reach even more students with an FSF-sponsored curriculum. Prior to FSF, Peter was CEO of Cushnie Et Ochs, CEO of Cynthia Rowley, President at John Varvatos Enterprises, and Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)/CFDA Foundation. A lawyer by training, Peter was a partner at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP before shifting to the fashion industry. He has also served as a board advisor at Roller Rabbit since 2016 and as a National Advisory Board Member of the St. Louis Fashion Fund from 2016-2019. Peter’s interest in education has also led him to serve as an adjunct professor and mentor at Fordham University School of Law, the CFDA, and Parsons School of Design.
The Fashion Scholarship Fund is the fashion industry’s foremost education and workforce development nonprofit, identifying and fostering the next generation of fashion industry talent, with a focus on students from underrepresented backgrounds. Stewarded strategic planning process, leading to a scaling of the organization - doubling its size and the breadth of its programmatic reach. Successfully shifted FSF from an event-driven revenue model to ongoing support from corporate partners, foundations, and individual donors. Re-engineered the scholarship program. Partnered with the late Virgil Abloh and secured $1+ million in initial funding from industry supporters to establish the Virgil Abloh “Post Modern” Scholarship Fund for Black students as a new paradigm to help solve for inequities in the fashion industry. Launched innovative programs including FSF University, the Bridge Fund, multi-year scholarships for FSF and Virgil Abloh Scholars, and pilot programs for early in-college and non-traditional talent. Elevated organizational programs: Mentoring Program, Internship Program, Summer Scholar Series. Significantly increased a diverse student applicant pool of over 1,500, across all disciplines and doubled the number of network schools, now 75, including fourteen HBCU's and six HSI’s. Regularly engaged FSF’s diverse community of educators, including deans, department heads and other faculty, to align curricula with industry opportunities. Piloted innovative Community College initiative to support underrepresented talent. Reimagined and increased profitability of annual Gala; engaged the Alumni community of over 3,000; elevated brand identity, positioning and notoriety.
Partnered with co-founders Carly Cushnie, Michelle Ochs and private equity stakeholders to successfully expand Cushnie et Ochs into new product categories, broaden its domestic and international distribution, and drive top and bottom line growth.
Partnered with dynamic founder/creative to reposition and revitalize the Company into an innovative, stylish leading American contemporary womenswear brand, driving significant top and bottom line growth. Led all divisions: wholesale sales, retail, e-commerce, communications, licensing, finance and operations. Approximately $250 million of Cynthia Rowley-branded products sold worldwide annually.
Led oversight of retail, wholesale sales, public relations and marketing teams of designer menswear brand. Primary liaison to parent company VF Corporation. Direct oversight of property selection, lease negotiation, build out, and opening of two key retail locations (South Coast Plaza & Soho). Successfully negotiated renewals of two key licenses--fragrance and eyewear.
Conceived and executed a comprehensive strategic plan to reposition the organization as the American fashion industry’s preeminent designer trade association. Directed all programmatic and philanthropic initiatives to amplify and elevate CFDA’s mission and profile within the US fashion community and globally.