The British Fashion Council (BFC) has named E. Tautz as the winner of the second BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by Vertu at a reception hosted by Caroline Rush, Dylan Jones OBE and Massimiliano Pogliani at the Rosewood London. E. Tautz was founded in 1867 and was re-branded in 2009 under the creative direction of Patrick Grant.
Dylan Jones OBE, Editor of British GQ and Chair of London Collections Men commented: “I would like to congratulate E. Tautz, the second brand to receive the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund. This year the level of talent and business acumen presented by the shortlisted designers was exceptionally high, making the competition both tough and intensely exciting. 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.”
The Fund is the UK’s biggest menswear prize and was established in September 2013 following the success of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and provides one designer with £150,000 grant to provide necessary infrastructure to take them to the next stage of their business and significant value in kind services as part of a bespoke, high level mentoring support programme over a twelve month period.
Astrid Andersen, Christopher Raeburn, E. Tautz, Matthew Miller and Sibling were shortlisted for the 2015 prize and participated in a mentoring programme where industry experts, including Fund committee member Ben Banks, CEO of Four Marketing, Karen Mengers, Merchandising Director of Alexander McQueen and Sean O’Neill, Head of Global Digital Trading at All Saints provided guidance on topics including strategic planning, branding, leadership, commercial retail, e-tail and wholesale and digital innovation.
Vertu, the world’s leading luxury mobile manufacturer and lead partner on the Fund, played a key role in the mentoring programme and gave access to its team of business leaders in technology, global distribution, legal and finance.
Massimiliano Pogliani, Chief Executive of Vertu commented: “The opportunity to mentor such a talented group of young British designers is both inspiring and a privilege and the Vertu team of mentors was impressed with the creativity and commercial ambition demonstrated by all of the designers. Patrick, however, stood out not only for his immense talent, but for his appetite to build the business and openness to new commercial approaches. We now look forward to mentoring E. Tautz further as it extends the business into new markets.”
The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund judging committee comprises 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 Pogliani, Vertu; Robert Johnston, British GQ.
Photo: Dylan Jones OBE (GQ), Massimiliano Pogliani (Vertu), Patrick Grant (E. Tautz) and Caroline Rush (BFC) (Credit – Darren Gerrish, BFC)