The BFC Fashion Trust is a British Fashion Council Foundation charitable initiative that empowers positive business growth through financial grants and mentoring. The fund is open to all ready-to-wear collections and/or accessories. Grant money should relate to a defined project that will be delivered within a set period of time, and applicants must articulate how projects align to their broader business vision and show a clear return on investment.
Since its inception in 2011, the BFC Fashion Trust has awarded almost £3 million to 57 designer businesses to promote growth and fund the implementation of practical solutions. These include long term strategic plans on topics such as merchandising, e-commerce, production, sampling, and more. Previous BFC Fashion Trust recipients include Chopova Lowena, David Koma, Emilia Wickstead, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Molly Goddard, Rejina Pyo, Roksanda, Sophia Webster, and WALES BONNER.
With thanks to Taylor Wessing for their pro-bono legal services, and the BFC Fashion Business Network and one-to-one mentors.
The winning recipients of the BFC Fashion Trust receive a grant through the BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 1185152). The foundation, established in 2020, brought all of the BFC’s charitable initiatives under one umbrella and supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on three areas: Education, Grant-Giving & Business Mentoring, and Institute of Positive Fashion. Each recipient signs a grant agreement with the BFC Foundation which includes a Code of Conduct, and requirements to ensure that applicants provide key information for future impact reporting.
Applications are now closed.
IPF STANDARDS 2024
The Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF) has developed a set of Minimum and Bronze Standards for BFC FASHION TRUST designer participants and its programme of events.
Each of the Minimum and Bronze standards are mapped against the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ranging from ending poverty and deprivation to improving health and education, reducing gender inequalities, developing responsible production and consumption, implementing climate action, and saving our oceans and forests. These 17 SDGs are a united call for action by nations across the globe.
The Standards apply to seven focus areas of a garment’s life cycle: #1 strategic direction, #2 raw material sourcing, #3 design, #4 manufacturing and distribution, #5 retail, consumer engagement and post-consumer, #6 working conditions and #7 fashion shows.
Our aim is for all BFC FASHION TRUST participants to comply with the stipulations of each focus area by integrating the Minimum and Bronze Standards into the criteria, allowing us to assess and monitor.
We are grateful to Copenhagen Fashion Week Sustainability Action Plan 2020-2022 for taking the lead in devising these sustainable requirements which have helped to shape our Standards.
