The British Fashion Council is to donate over £1 million to some of the country’s top emerging designers.
In the past 12 months, the body that represents all British designers and brands has raised more than £2.3 million for its charitable and business projects, with £1.1 million of that set to be given to young talent this year.
The money will go to designers in the BFC’s education and development programmes, including NewGen, the BFC Fashion Trust, the BFC Education Foundation, plus the BFC/Vogue and BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Funds for womenswear and menswear, respectively.
Designers featured on the NewGen programme, which gives a platform to emerging talent, include Richard Quinn, whose February 2018 show was attended by the Queen, and Halpern, whose designs are now worn by Lupita Nyong’o and Katy Perry.
Since it began in 1993, NewGen has acted as a launch pad for more than 260 designers such as Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane and Erdem. This year’s beneficiaries will include Bethany Williams, Bianca Saunders and Roker.
Last year, a £200,000 grant was received by Molly Goddard, the designer behind Killing Eve assassin Villanelle’s pink dress, thanks to the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
Meanwhile, the number of scholarships given by the BFC Education Foundation has risen by more than 60 per cent, increasing funds for potential students from disadvantaged backgrounds, from £127,000 to over £200,000.
Caroline Rush, of the British Fashion Council, said: “The UK has a reputation of having some of the best fashion schools in the world as well as the most innovative and creative talent. We are delighted to be able to support many of them from school-level through to established designer businesses.”
