BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL TO HELP FUND 17 EMERGING DESIGNERS THIS YEAR
On Wednesday, the British Fashion Council (BFC) hosted an event at The May Fair Hotel in London to highlight and celebrate the 2018 designers awarded prizes and financial contributions including the announcement of the 2018/19 NEWGEN line-up and the 2018 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund winner.
Alighieri, Isosceles, Matty Bovan, Per Gotesson, Supriya Lele, and The Season Hats will receive NEWGEN support for the first time this year, in addition to existing NEWGEN designers A-Cold-Wall*, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, Halpern, Kiko Kostadinov, Liam Hodges, Nicholas Daley, Paula Knorr, Phoebe English, Richard Malone, Richard Quinn, Wales Bonner who all continue to receive support. ‘One to Watch’ support has been awarded to Bianca Saunders and Pariah Farzaneh, who will be given exhibition space in the LFW Designer Showrooms at The Store Studios this September. Designers Cottweiler, Marta Jakubowski, Molly Goddard and Sadie Williams have now graduated from the initiative.
Looking forward to London Fashion Week Men’s in June, NEWGEN recipients A-Cold-Wall*, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, Kiko Kostadinov, Liam Hodges, Nicholas Daley, Per Gotesson, Phoebe English, and Wales Bonner will show during the event. Halpern, Matty Bovan, Paula Knorr, Richard Malone, Richard Quinn and Supriya Lele will show at London Fashion Week in September. Each of the NEWGEN designers will be allocated a dedicated pop-up showroom space within the Designer Showrooms at The Store Studios, taking residence after their show or presentation to host press and buyers appointments.
NEWGEN sponsorship is awarded annually to both womenswear and menswear designers who will show at either London Fashion Week or London Fashion Week Men’s. In 2018, NEWGEN will also encompass accessories, including all categories such as shoes, bags, hats, jewelry and fine jewelry.
NEWGEN is a BFC initiative that supports the very best emerging talent and aims to build global, high end fashion brands of the future. The scheme offers designers financial support, showcasing opportunities and the time and support to hone in on critical business skills to future-proof their businesses.
“We are extremely proud to have raised over £2.2 million within a year for all of our charities and business support initiatives,” said Caroline Rush CBE, chief executive of the British Fashion Council. “I would like to thank all our supporters without whom this would have not been possible, from our patrons to all the funders, sponsors and mentors who give their time pro-bono to help us develop and grow the exciting designer businesses we have in the UK.”
“Huge congratulations to the 2018 NEWGEN recipients and to Molly Goddard, winner of the 2018 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund,” added Rush. “All these designers represent the most creative and innovative talent our country has to offer and we look forward to working with them to raise their profile even more on the international fashion stage.”
