Together with the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF), the Coach Foundation has launched the Dream It Real x FSF Leathercraft Scholarship Program, combining financial support with practical training and access to Coach designers, craftspeople and industry experts.
Five undergraduate students were selected for the inaugural 2026 cohort. According to the FSF, each received a $10,000 scholarship. The program is aimed at students interested in leathercraft and related areas including fashion design, product development, merchandising and business. The recipients were selected partly on the strength of projects focused on repairing or upcycling leather goods.
As part of the program, the students spent two days with Coach in New York and New Jersey in June. At the brand’s Coach (Re)Loved and Repair Workshop in North Bergen, they were introduced to techniques including leather grading, stitching, repairs, hardware installation and finishing. Using pre-owned materials, the participants also repaired and redesigned bags themselves.
The second day focused on career opportunities within the fashion and leather industries. At Tapestry’s Hudson Yards offices, participants learned about the company’s apprenticeship program, met design and product teams and took part in portfolio reviews and career discussions. They also received insights into leather sourcing and production from Tapestry specialists.
“Receiving the Coach Dream It Real Scholarship is a powerful confirmation for me,” said scholarship recipient Joseph Coleman of Morehouse College. He described the experience as an affirmation of his interest in craftsmanship, design and storytelling.
The initiative builds on Coach’s broader investment in repair and leathercraft skills. Its (Re)Loved Craftsperson Apprenticeship Program provides one year of technical training for craftspeople working with pre-owned Coach products. According to Tapestry’s FY2025 corporate responsibility report, the program had supported ten participants in its first four years. The company also reported that more than 495,000 Coach products had been repaired globally since 2019, while over 13,800 items were given a second life through Coach (Re)Loved in FY2025.
With the new scholarship program, Coach says it aims to preserve specialist leathercraft knowledge while creating clearer career pathways for a new generation of artisans, designers and makers.
