BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2016 Shortlist Announced
*Breaking fashion news coffee loving stylistas* – this year’s BFC/Vogue designer fashion fund shortlist has been announced! Competing for the lucrative prize are Emilia Wickstead, Mother of Pearl, Osman, Prism and Sophia Webster. All nominated designers have been hand selected by the Fund Judging Committee based on the potential to expand and develop into a global designer brand. Now that’s one impressive list, if we do say so!
The committee is comprised of experts within the fashion industry including; Caroline Rush (CBE) of the British Fashion Council, Ian Lewis of Harrys of London Limited, Lisa Armstrong of the Daily Telegraph, Joan Burstein (CBE) of Browns, Mary Homer of Topshop, Samantha Cameron of the British Fashion Council, Sarah Manley of Burberry, Susanne Tide-Frater of Farfetch and fashion designer and icon Victoria Beckham.
Alexandra Shulman (OBE) and editor of British Vogue, chairs the committee and has described the shortlist as “inspiring because of its diversity” adding “it’s a great representation of the spread of British fashion designers and all the contenders have huge strengths to their creative visions” and we couldn’t agree more with this year’s amazing group of worthy finalists. Caroline Rush (CBE), chief executive of the British Fashion Council is also impressed with this year’s finalists stating that “these brands represent the best of London’s fashion talent”.
A lucrative prize indeed, as the winner of the fund will not only receive 12 months of intensive mentoring, but a financial grant of £200,000 to provide the necessary funds and infrastructure needed to take their business to the next stage. The winner of the sought after award will be announced on Tuesday 22nd March, and we can imagine many fingers are going to be crossed. With previous winners comprising of Christopher Kane, Nicholas Kirkwood, Mary Katrantzou and Erdem to name a few, these are certainly industry names you want to be pitched up against.
The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is supported by key iconic British brands including Burberry, Harrods, Paul Smith and British Vogue and to support and celebrate this year’s announcement of finalists, Harrods will be dedicating one of its infamous windows to the five shortlisted designers. So make sure that you add the 19th January into your diaries to take a quick trip to the department store (as if we needed an excuse), as it’s sure to be impressive! The window will run for two weeks in the heart of Knightsbridge.
Once again, the BFC have created exclusive online content in the form of a video series – Designer Fashion Fund which includes a look at the application process, journeys of the designers as well as an interview series with the judging panel, allowing us to head behind the scenes and gain a further look into the project. Episodes can be viewed exclusively on the British Fashion TV Youtube channel and Vogue.co.uk.
