Designing What’s Next: Meet the Winners of the COBMEX® Uniform Design Scholarships

As part of our commitment to advancing the future of uniform design, COBMEX^® introduced two scholarships for students at George Brown College: the Innovation in Uniform Design Scholarship and the Sustainability in Uniform Apparel Scholarship. Created to support emerging talent, the scholarships recognize students whose ideas reflect the evolving realities of the uniform industry, function, durability, inclusivity, and environmental impact.

“At COBMEX^®, we believe the future of uniform design depends on merging technical innovation with a deep understanding of the people wearing our garments,” said Pricila Neal, Senior Director of Design and Product at COBMEX^®. “Maya and Jessica exemplify that mindset. Their work reflects not only creative thinking, but the empathy, adaptability, and foresight our industry needs.”

This year’s recipients, Maya Khodr-Ali and Jessica (Tzu-Chi) Yeh, brought thoughtful perspectives to the table. Both have very different backgrounds but share a clear focus: to design with intention, purpose, and imagination. Their work illustrates what the next generation of designers is already thinking about and what they hope to change.

Maya Khodr-Ali: COBMEX^® Innovation in Uniform Design Scholarship Recipient

Maya Khodr-Ali took an unconventional route into fashion, one that continues to shape her creative perspective. Before attending George Brown’s Fashion Design program, she studied medical radiation sciences at McMaster University. “During my third year, I just couldn’t really see myself pursuing the career long-term,” she said. “I’d always loved fashion. I’d been sewing for years, just making clothes for myself.”

Khodr-Ali’s academic shift, from science to design, has become central to how she approaches fashion today. In her scholarship essay, she proposed wearable uniforms embedded with functional features, such as integrated heating pads to support individuals with endometriosis and PCOS. As someone living with chronic pain herself, the idea stemmed from personal experience. “Women’s health issues are often dismissed or not taken seriously,” she said. “Smart clothing that can address issues for women is something I’d really love to explore.”

She’s currently working on a project exploring the integration of medical tracking devices into garments. That hands-on experience has emphasized the complexity of innovation in this space.“It’s not as easy as just making something look good and expecting the technology to work,” she said. “You have to be creative to make it functional and meet real-world needs.”

Inclusivity was another major theme in her proposal. Khodr-Ali advocates for garments that reflect the cultural and personal realities of those wearing them, from modest uniforms for Muslim women to designs that accommodate gender fluidity.

“Uniforms can make people feel seen,” she said. “That means designing options that are modest, or that adapt to different gender expressions.”

Outside of school, she’s also a published poet, and is interested in creating a fashion collection inspired by her writing. “That’s one of the ways I want to merge all the things I do creatively,” she said.

Khodr-Ali sees the scholarship as more than recognition, it’s a moment of affirmation. “It made me feel really motivated to pursue my career in fashion,” she said. “I’m really grateful to be recognized and supported.”

Her vision for the future includes building her own brand and continuing to explore innovation that’s rooted in care, for the body, the environment, and the person wearing the garment.

Jessica (Tzu-Chi) Yeh: COBMEX^® Sustainability in Uniform Apparel Scholarship Recipient

For Jessica Yeh, the path to design began on the sales floor. After studying fashion design in Taiwan, she worked in retail for a Singaporean brand before relocating to Canada to pursue Fashion Management at George Brown College. “I already knew I had a strong passion for the industry,” she said. “That’s why I decided to study fashion management, to get a deeper understanding of how the industry works as a whole.”

That perspective, practical, operational, and design-minded, was clearly reflected in her scholarship essay. She identified four sustainability challenges specific to the uniform industry: the use of synthetic fibers, short product lifespans, limited supply chain visibility, and the difficulty of safe recycling. She offered clear, actionable solutions in each area, from adopting recycled and biodegradable materials to modular construction and closed-loop garment recovery programs.

At the same time, Yeh is attuned to more visible challenges, such as the excessive waste created by short product lifespans. Her experience working in bridalwear gave her a firsthand look at how quickly garments can be discarded and just how much waste the fashion industry can produce. It was a turning point that pushed her to think more critically about circularity and to explore design solutions that extend the life and purpose of every piece.

That experience made her more conscious of how garments are constructed and how they can be improved.

“Uniforms are worn every day. They’re often damaged in the same areas, like elbows,” she explained. “Instead of throwing away the whole garment, why not make just that part replaceable?” In her essay, she expanded this idea to include seasonal adaptability through detachable collars, sleeves, and interlinings.

Looking ahead, Yeh is focused on building a career in product development, one grounded in thoughtful design, sustainability, and practical application. She’s currently working in the fashion industry and plans to deepen her skills in digital prototyping. “After I graduated, I talked with my current manager, and she encouraged me to study CLO 3D,” she said. “So I plan to use the scholarship to invest in that, to keep learning and improve my skills.” For Yeh, the COBMEX^® scholarship has not only validated her direction but made continued learning more accessible.

A Broader Perspective on Uniform Design

While neither student entered fashion school with uniforms in mind, both now see the field as a compelling space to build a career.

Yeh sees uniform design as a hands-on way to break into the fashion industry. “Uniforms might not be the first thing people think of when they picture fashion design,” Yeh said. “But it’s a smart place to start, you get to design for real needs, learn how things are made, and build a strong foundation for a career in the industry.”

For Khodr-Ali, the opportunity lies in applying creativity across disciplines. “Fashion is not just a linear path,” she said. “There’s so many things you can do with it.”

The future of uniform design will require both clarity, care, and vision, qualities that were evident in the work of both recipients. Their perspectives show what’s possible when designers begin not with aesthetics, but with people, and build from there.