Jin-Kyu Daniel Noack (19) studies IBA at Erasmus University Rotterdam with a scholarship from the Erasmus Trustfonds. He is passionate about building a bridge between Asia and the West within the fashion industry.
“My greatest value is that I grew up between two cultures. My father is German and my mother, with whom I mainly grew up, is Korean. We visited our Korean family every year while we lived in multicultural Berlin ourselves. I consider myself to be equally German as Korean. I studied biochemistry in Bavaria, though it didn’t make me happy. I want to work in the fashion industry and to make an impact there, as it is the second-most polluting industry in the world.
“If someone loves what they do, they will always have a positive impact.”
Fast-fashion industry
Fast fashion is now mainly produced in China and East-Asia. There are many designers of Asian streetwear who become famous on TikTok and Instagram. What I want to do, is found a company that helps those designers by giving them a platform that facilitates their export to Europe and America. Thereby I will shift the consumer demand, which is already demanding more sustainability, to more sustainable and selected fashion, and away from the fast-fashion industry. This way, I can make a positive impact on the environment, on fashionability and culture exchange between Asia and Europe.
Everybody says it, but maybe no young person really believes it, but I believe that doing what you want and what makes you happy is the most important thing in your life. If someone loves what they do, they will always make a positive impact.
The spirit of a scholarship
The spirit of a scholarship, I think, is that it is something that you work for, so you are grateful for it, and you really want to make the most of it. I’ve never heard of someone receiving a scholarship being arrogant about it, or flexing with it. A scholarship offers you the opportunity to chase your dreams. So with a donation here, you are enabling people to do what they love and make an impact. In this way, you yourself as a donator can make an impact yourself.
A scholarship offers you the opportunity to chase your dreams.
I’m very happy that I live in Rotterdam now. I consider this city my new home. Because just as in Berlin, I’m in a bubble of openness, of multi-culture. That’s how I grew up, and I love it.’
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Do you also want to help fund scholarships for talented students like Jin Kyu? Support one or more participants of the Erasmus Charity Run via this link.
