The British Fashion Council (BFC) today announced the names of 17 of London’s brightest emerging fashion design talents who have been selected to receive BFC NEWGEN sponsorship, supported by Topshop, to show at London Fashion Week in September 2011. NEWGEN, established in 1993, is one of the world’s most internationally recognised fashion design talent identification schemes.
IMAGE GALLERY from the announcement party
NEWGEN recipients for spring/summer 2012 sponsored by Topshop are:
Catwalk sponsorship: David Koma,
Holly Fulton,
Louise Gray and
Michael van der Ham.
Presentation sponsorship: Christopher Raeburn,
Craig Lawrence,
Dominic Jones,
J.W. Anderson and
Nasir Mazhar.
Installation sponsorship: Jordan Askill and
SISTER by SIBLING.
Exhibition sponsorship: Felicity Brown,
J. JS Lee,
James Long,
Palmer//Harding,
Thomas Tait and
Tim Soar Woman.
All of the designers listed above under Catwalk, presentation and installation sponsorship will feature in the NEWGENThe Exhibition at London Fashion Week. space of
NEWGEN is an internationally recognised showcase for the best emerging British fashion talent and is central to the British Fashion Council’s talent identification, designer development and showcasing programme. Since its inception, its alumni include
Alexander McQueen,
Matthew Williamson, Boudicca,
Giles Deacon,
Jonathan Saunders,
Christopher Kane,
Marios Schwab,
Richard Nicoll,
Erdem,
Mary Katrantzou and
Meadham Kirchhoff. The scheme has become a key draw for the international fashion media and buyers attending London Fashion Week.
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council commented, “NEWGEN has become shorthand for future star of the fashion industry. This season’s winners are some of the world’s most innovative new fashion talents and we look forward to seeing them at London Fashion Week in September.”
Sarah Mower, the BFC’s Ambassador for Emerging Talent, said, “This is the first crop of NEWGEN winners who'll be designing for 2012. In the year of the London Olympics, they're our best young design athletes: Britain's Team Fashion, in training to represent this country brilliantly for next summer.”
Mary Homer, Managing Director of Topshop adds, “I feel privileged that Topshop is involved with undoubtedly one of the fashion world's most exciting and successful sponsorship schemes, and after almost ten years we are as enthusiastic about and committed to the programme as ever. This year's recipients are truly international, attracted here by the vibrant culture of our capital and the energy that surrounds our cosmopolitan fashion community and its colleges. I'm delighted they are here in London and I wish them the best of luck for the season ahead.”
NEWGEN offers catwalk designers financial support towards their show costs and the opportunity to use the BFC Catwalk Show Space. Others receive sponsored presentation or exhibition space to showcase their collections, offering an important introduction for young UK-based designers to influential press and buyers from around the world.
NEWGEN also provides business and mentoring support through the BFC in partnership with Shoosmiths, Baker Tilley and Lloyds TSB.
Designers receiving NEWGEN sponsorship for the first time this season include Levi Palmer and Matthew Harding, the design duo behind the label Palmer//Harding. Their most recent collection was stocked in Topshop and has been worn by Lady Gaga and Naomi Campbell. James Long, who launched his womenswear line at Fashion East last season, has also received NEWGEN sponsorship for the first time. Both Palmer//Harding and James Long will showcase at The Exhibition at London Fashion Week in September.
Progressive knitwear brand SIBLING is launching their first womenswear collection SISTER by SIBLING for SS12 with support from NEWGEN. Leopard motifs, Breton stripes and English humour will be referenced in the new line. Tim Soar will also showcase his first stand-alone womenswear line in the Exhibition at London Fashion Week. This builds upon Soar’s SHE:HIM project which he launched for SS11, where elements from his menswear collection were re-worked into womenswear.
Topshop continues its support of the NEWGEN scheme for the 20th consecutive season, supporting London’s diverse young fashion designers to showcase to a global audience. Topshop offers additional support to designers by providing show venues and commissioning special collections available during and beyond London Fashion Week. Topshop’s dedication to the support and growth of emerging talent remains unsurpassed.
London Fashion Week will run from Friday 16th September – Wednesday 21st September 2011 and will be located at Somerset House, Strand WC2.
For more information on the NEWGEN designers visit:
www.britishfashioncouncil.com/newgen
Registration for London Fashion Week is now open:
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/register
Image: Left to right (back row): Matthew Harding of Palmer//Harding, James Long with sister Charlotte, Thomas Tait, David Koma, Christopher Raeburn with muse, JW Anderson, Jordan Askill.
Middle row: Levi Palmer of Palmer//Harding, Holly Fulton, Tim Soar, Louise Gray, Nasir Mazhar, Michael van der Ham, Felicity and Henry Brown.
Front row: J JS Lee, Sid Bryan, Joe Bates and Cozette McCreery of SIBLING, Craig Lawrence, Dominic Jones with muse Clara Paget.
For press enquiries regarding NEWGEN at London Fashion Week please contact:
Gemma Ebelis, PR Manager, British Fashion Council, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7759 1989
gemma.ebelis@britishfashioncouncil.com
For buyers enquiries regarding NEWGEN at London Fashion Week please contact:
Barbara Grispini +44 (0) 20 7759 1991 / +44 (0) 7765 000 224
barbara.grispini@britishfashioncouncil.com
For designers wishing to apply for NEWGEN please contact:
Katie Bain, British Fashion Council, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7759 1978
katie.bain@britishfashioncouncil.com
For Topshop enquiries, please contact:
Mark Kean, PR Manager, Tel +44 (0) 20 7291 2415
mark.kean@topshop.com