Fashion Scholarship Fund Case Study - Supreme X Polaroid
2026 independent merchandising case study with collaboration strategy, assortment, pricing, distribution, and launch plan.
Role: Merchandising strategy, consumer research, SKU build, pricing, distribution, activation, deck design.
Fashion Scholarship Fund Case Study - Supreme X Polaroid
2026 independent merchandising case study with collaboration strategy, assortment, pricing, distribution, and launch plan.
Role: Merchandising strategy, consumer research, SKU build, pricing, distribution, activation, deck design.
2026 independent merchandising case study with collaboration strategy, assortment, pricing, distribution, and launch plan.
Role: Merchandising strategy, consumer research, SKU build, pricing, distribution, activation, deck design.
BACKGROUND
The Fashion Scholarship Fund is a national nonprofit that supports future leaders in the business of fashion through case study scholarships, mentorship, and industry access. Each year, students submit research based projects that are judged by industry professionals.
THE ASK
The 2026 FSF brief asked students to create a collaboration between a fashion brand and a non-fashion company, then build a research backed plan across assortment, distribution, and growth.
Deliverables included a 17 to 21 page slide deck that covered brand context, target consumer, a 5 to 10 style assortment, a six month merchandising plan with KPIs, planning and allocation, visual merchandising, and future growth. Judges evaluated creativity, research depth, clarity, and format.
Deliverables included a 17 to 21 page slide deck that covered brand context, target consumer, a 5 to 10 style assortment, a six month merchandising plan with KPIs, planning and allocation, visual merchandising, and future growth. Judges evaluated creativity, research depth, clarity, and format.
PROCESS AND PLAN
Concept: Supreme x Polaroid was built around a simple shift. Turn instant photos into something you keep, not something you scroll past. The hero product is a Supreme branded Polaroid Flip camera with a strap, backed by film refills and a tight capsule.
Working tagline: When the moment develops, it’s worth the wait.
Assortment and pricing: I built a small, laddered capsule anchored by the camera, with film refills available all season. The supporting lineup includes heat reactive photo tees, a contact sheet hoodie, a camera bag, a zine, and an archival photo album. The grid stays disciplined. One clear hero, a refill engine that drives repeat purchase, and a few high impact pieces that earn attention.
Distribution and cadence: The collaboration runs direct to consumer through Supreme stores and supreme.com. The drop lands in week five, with film available across all stores and online all season. The camera is limited to one per customer to protect scarcity, with inventory split between stores and online to match how customers shop the release.
In-store story: The Flip camera leads in the window. Behind it, a gallery wall of creator prints carries from the window into the store so release day reads like an exhibition, not a standard drop.
Plan and growth: I built a six month plan that covers sales, gross margin, markdowns, receipts, and on hand inventory. From there, I outlined two future paths. One path uses city specific zines and small seasonal refreshes if the results are strong. The other winds the program down quietly to preserve scarcity if the camera sells through faster than expected. Success is measured through lift versus a typical Supreme drop, refill repeat, gross margin, turnover, creator engagement, and how much film carries forward.
OUTCOME
This case study shows how one hero product, backed by film refills and a tight capsule, can turn a single drop into a cultural moment and something customers return to over time.Check out the full presentation here