Shortlist unveiled for the BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund
Posted by Lucky on Jan 12, 2010
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the shortlist for the inaugural BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
The shortlist comprises London Fashion Week womenswear designers Christopher Kane, Erdem, Marios Schwab, Richard Nicoll and Clements Ribeiro; menswear newcomer E.Tautz; accessories label Angel Jackson, and shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood.
Launched in November 2009, the scheme will provide one designer with £200,000 and high-level mentoring support to build his or her business on the international stage. Marigay McKee, fashion and beauty director at Harrods, will chair a committee of industry mentors who will play an active role in supporting the winner.
The fund, which is chaired by the BFC’s chairman Harold Tillman, was launched as a legacy project for the BFC’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, who is chair of the judging panel, will document the judging process and announce the winner in the magazine’s May issue.
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. The scheme is similar to the Vogue/CFDA (Council of Fashion designers of America) fund, spearheaded by Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, which has boosted the careers of Proenza Schouler, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, and Rodarte, among others, since it was established in 2003.
Those supporting the fund include the 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.
Mr Harold Tillman said: “The industry support that we have received for The British Fashion Council’s Vogue Designer Fashion Fund so far has been fantastic but we still have a lot of work to do to ensure a lasting legacy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our funders. I strongly believe this scheme will play a key role in developing businesses in the future”.
source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/fashionnews/6973245/Shortlist-unveiled-for-the-BFC-Vogue-Designer-Fashion-Fund.html
