LONDON, Jan 14, 2010 / — The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced yesterday the shortlist for the inaugural BFC / Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. The shortlisted designers are Angel Jackson, Christopher Kane, Clements Ribeiro, E.Tautz, Erdem, Marios Schwab, Nicholas Kirkwood and Richard Nicoll.
The Fund was launched by BFC Chairman Harold Tillman in September 2008 as a legacy project for the BFC’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Those supporting The Fund include Arcadia Group, Burberry, Condé Nast, Debenhams, Harrods, House of Fraser, HSBC Commercial Bank, Jaeger / Aquascutum, Marks & Spencer, Paul Smith, Tesco Clothing, TONI&GUY and Westfield Shopping Towns.
The Fund will provide one British based designer with £200,000 and high level mentoring support – additional awards of mentoring and business support may be allocated to finalists at the judging panel’s discretion.
The aim of The Fund is to assist talented British designers with the potential for commercial growth to start making the transition from a developing creative business to a global fashion brand.
In order to be eligible for this scheme, designers must have an established business. They must also be UK based, as well as having UK and international stockists and support from key media both UK and internationally. The winner will demonstrate a clear vision for their business and how The Fund will contribute to their growth with a focus on creating an international brand.
The announcement also included the list of the first funders of The BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund (photo) Seated from left: Christopher Bailey, Burberry; Marigay McKee, Harrods; Harold Tillman, BFC and Jaeger / Aquascutum; Alexandra Shulman, Vogue; Carol Bagnald, HSBC Commercial Bank; Kate Bostock, Marks and Spencer; Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck, TONI&GUY.
Standing from left: Angela Ahrendts, Burberry; Sir Paul Smith; Nicholas Coleridge, Condé Nast; Sir Philip Green, Arcadia Group; Michael Sharp, Debenhams; Terry Green, Tesco Clothing; Bill Giouroukos, Westfield Shopping Towns; James Tarbuck, TONI&GUY.
The British Fashion Council has an international reputation for supporting emerging talent through its existing schemes; NEWGEN supported by TOPSHOP and Fashion Forward supported by Coutts & Co. The BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is a unique support scheme in the UK that will focus on developing British designers businesses into global brands.
The Fund will be chaired by Harold Tillman. Alexandra Shulman, Editor of British Vogue, will chair the judging panel and British Vogue will document the judging process and announce the winner in its May 2010 issue. Marigay McKee, Fashion and Beauty Director at Harrods, will chair a committee of industry mentors who will play an active role in supporting the winners. Mentors will be allocated once a winner has been selected in order to offer relevant support to achieve the goals set out by the individual business.
