Samantha Akiwumi-Astic and Anderson & Sheppard Fashion Award
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Samantha Akiwumi-Astic and Anderson & Sheppard Fashion Award, applicants must be:
- Currently enrolled on the second year of the full-time MA Fashion course at Central Saint Martins, UAL starting in October 2026 with the primary focus of their work on menswear designs
- Experiencing financial hardship (in accordance with the terms laid out by UAL).
About
Sammy Akiwumi-Astic was a British Ghanaian menswear consultant and designer celebrated for her refined eye, culturally rich perspective and dedication to modern tailoring.
Born in London in 1984, Akiwumi-Astic studied at Leeds University and London College of Fashion before she built her career alongside some of the finest craftspeople on Savile Row and Jermyn Street. Through her work as The Groom Style Consultant and later under her own label Sammy Aki, she championed contemporary bespoke tailoring rooted in heritage and personal storytelling. She also co-produced The English Gentlemen presentations, a prestigious series of events that celebrated British tailoring and showcased the artistry of Savile Row in some of London’s most iconic historic venues. She sadly passed on May 15, 2025.
The grant is supported by Anderson & Sheppard, the Savile Row bespoke tailors established in 1906. It was established in memory of Samantha Akiwumi-Astic, who worked on several large scale, complex presentations during London Collections: Men, including The English Gentleman series held between 2012 and 2015. On these she worked alongside Anda Rowland of Anderson & Sheppard and Jo Hambro, Creative Fashion Director at GQ United Kingdom.
The scholarship will be assessed based on financial need and academic merit. It will provide a contribution towards course costs and living expenses in the second and final year of the course.
Alongside the Award, the recipient will receive a three-month paid work placement (£2,065 per month) at Savile Row bespoke tailors Anderson and Sheppard across their bespoke and haberdashery businesses. It will include shadowing and assisting members of their cutting room and tailoring teams as well as time with the team working on designs for their ready-to-wear collections.
Applications are welcome from those who are in financial hardship and those who will benefit from postgraduate studies to realise their full potential.
Apply
The Samantha Akiwumi-Astic and Anderson & Sheppard Fashion Award is now open for applications.
Applications for this scholarship must be made by filling in an online application form. More information is provided in the guidance notes:
Closing date: 11pm (UK time) Sunday 6 September 2026.
We cannot accept applications that are incomplete or arrive late.
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Receiving payment
The award will provide a contribution of £4,000 towards your course costs and living expenses in the second year of the course.
Course costs and living expenses payments for will be paid in termly instalments via BACS to the award recipient.
Help
If you have questions or need help, please contact us using our student enquiry form.
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