The British Fashion Council (BFC) has today announced that eight of London’s most exciting emerging menswear fashion design talents will receive sponsorship from its designer support initiative NEWGEN MEN sponsored by TOPMAN. All recipients will receive business support, funding and the opportunity to use the official BFC venue to host either a catwalk show or, following on from the success of last season, a presentation or an installation during London Fashion Week’s (LFW) Menswear Day, on Wednesday 23rd February 2011.
The recipients of NEWGEN MEN, sponsored by TOPMAN are:
Catwalk sponsorship (shows will take place in the BFC Show Space):
Christopher Shannon,
James Long and
J.W. Anderson
Salon show sponsorship (TOPMAN show space at the Royal Opera House):
Lou Dalton
Presentation sponsorship (presentations will take place in the Portico Rooms):
Katie Eary,
Omar Kashoura, and
SIBLING
Installation sponsorship (installations will take place in the ground floor showrooms):
Christopher Raeburn
NEWGEN MEN began in February 2009, building on TOPMAN and Fashion East’s successful MAN initiative. It has since become instrumental in raising the profile of emerging British designers using the dedicated Menswear Day at London Fashion Week as a showcasing platform. As well as sponsorship, the initiative offers its recipients tailored business and mentoring support, with a view to increasing the success of their business commercially and building relationships with key press and buyers. NEWGEN MEN continues to promote the best of British menswear talent for the fourth consecutive season, with ongoing dedicated support from TOPMAN.
NEWGEN MEN recipient James Long’s continued success led to him holding his first stand alone catwalk show last season, and through the scheme’s sponsorship Long will once again host a catwalk show on Menswear Day. Long’s unique aesthetic combines knitwear, print, denim and his signature biker jackets with bold uses of colour running through the collection, a combination that has won him NEWGEN MEN sponsorship for the fourth time.
The creative and technically talented trio behind SIBLING have between them worked for Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon, Lanvin, Jonathan Saunders and Bella Freud. Their signature hand-crafted, bold and progressive knitwear will be shown in a presentation format during LFW. Highlights from previous seasons include their highly wearable knitwear pieces ranging from graphic prints to statement jumpers, creating a highly successful and commercially viable collection.
J.W. Anderson’s SS11 collection built on his signature style of reinterpreting traditional menswear silhouettes, going against the grain to create new movements in menswear. Previously collaborating with Swarovski, Anderson created crystal embellished garments and paired these with statement accessory pieces to unify his collection. Fellow menswear designer Christopher Shannon, whose previous collaborations include accessories for Eastpak and a line for TOPMAN, will show his luxury sportswear collection in his first stand alone show .
The NEWGEN MEN selection committee is made up of key opinion formers across media and retail industries. This season the panel included Gordon Richardson, TOPMAN; Jason Griffiths, TOPMAN; Jo-Ann Furniss, Arena Homme Plus; Charlie Porter, Fantastic Man; Stephen Ayres, Liberty; Jeremy Langmead, Mr Porter; Lulu Kennedy, Fashion East/MAN; Patrick Grant, Norton & Sons; Robert Johnston, GQ; Richard Johnson, Harvey Nichols; Adam Kelly, Selfridges and Tim Blanks, Style.com.
Simon Ward, Chief Operating Officer at the British Fashion Council, commented
“NEWGEN MEN has quickly grown from an experimental pilot to a successful talent identification scheme and support initiative, highlighting how British menswear designers are forging a global reputation for innovation.”
Tim Blanks, Contributing Editor, Style.com and a member of the British Fashion Council's Menswear Committee said,
“We're entering a new world here - I can't think of another time when the local menswear scene has covered such a broad spectrum. The message is clear: strength in diversity. ”
Gordon Richardson, Design Director, TOPMAN, who was also on the selection panel, adds
“NEWGEN MEN now an established and integral part of London Fashion Week has rapidly become THE fashion barometer for all that's exciting and dynamic in British menswear. For Topman to have been instrumental in this renaissance is both a joy and a privilege.”
London Fashion Week’s womenswear shows will run from Friday 18th – Tuesday 22nd February 2010 and menswear collections will be shown on Wednesday 23rd February. Alfred Dunhill will host a pre-cursor show to the menswear collections on the evening of Tuesday 22nd February. London Fashion Week is located at Somerset House, Strand WC2.
For press enquiries regarding NEWGEN MEN at London Fashion Week please contact:
Gemma Ebelis, PR Manager, British Fashion Council
+44 (0) 20 7759 1999 / (0)7802 393 411
gemma.ebelis@britishfashioncouncil.com
For designers wishing to apply for NEWGEN MEN or to be part of Menswear Day please contact:
Katie Bain, Show Manager, British Fashion Council
+44 (0) 20 7759 1978
katie.bain@britishfashioncouncil.com
For TOPMAN enquiries, please contact:
Kelly Reed, TOPMAN Press Office
+44 (0) 20 7291 2721
kelly.reed@topman.com
Image: James Long spring/summer 2011 at London Fashion Week, September 2010