E. Tautz Wins British Fashion Council/GQ 2015 Menswear Fund
By Erik DeFruscio
The British Fashion Council announced E. Tautz as the winner of the second BFC/GQ Menswear Fund. The brand’s creative director Patrick Grant accepted the award at a reception hosted by British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush, British GQ editor Dylan Jones and Massimiliano Pogliani, CEO of event sponsor Vertu.
Jones, who is also the chair of London Collections Men, said, “Patrick demonstrated unique flair, precise craftsmanship and an inherent sense of commercial awareness, which combined with the financial and mentoring support will elevate the business placing it at the forefront of the global menswear stage.”
E. Tautz was founded in 1867 and for decades specialized in hunting and military trousers. It was acquired by the Savile Row tailor shop Norton & Sons in 1968 and then relaunched as a ready-to-wear brand by Norton & Sons managing director Patrick Grant in 2009.
The Fund, established in September 2013, is the U.K.’s largest menswear prize and provides one designer with a ₤150,000 grant providing them with the necessary materials in order to progress their business.
“We are delighted to be able to support a label with such a strong identity, precise business plan and noteworthy presence at London Collections Men,” added Rush.
The other finalists were Astrid Anderson, Christopher Raeburn, Matthew Miller and Sibling. They each participated in a mentoring program which went over topics including strategic planning, branding, leadership, commercial retail, e-tail and wholesale and digital innovation. The program was led by Ben Banks, CEO of Four Marketing, Karen Mengers, merchandising director of Alexander McQueen and Sean O’Neil of Global Digital Trading at All Saints.
The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund judging committee includes Ben Banks, Fourmarketing; Caroline Rush, British Fashion Council; Charlie Porter, charlieporter.net and Financial Times; Dylan Jones OBE, British GQ; Helen Seamons, Guardian News & Media; Jonathan Akeroyd, Alexander McQueen; Justine Rouch, Vertu; Massimiliano Pogliana, Vertu; Robert Johnston, BritishGQ.
