The British Fashion Council has today announced eight of London’s brightest emerging talents who will receive sponsorship to showcase their SS15 collections at London Fashion Week (12th – 16th September 2014) from NEWGEN sponsored by TOPSHOP.
Catwalk sponsorship: 1205, Lucas Nascimento, Marques’Almeida
Presentation sponsorship: Ashley Williams (1st season), Danielle Romeril, Faustine Steinmetz (1st season), Ryan Lo
Exhibition sponsorship: Claire Barrow
Following the success of the pop-up NEWGEN showroom at last season’s London Fashion Week, the designers will again be given a dedicated showroom for four hours after their show or presentation giving buyers the opportunity to make sales appointments with the designers.
NEWGEN is the BFC’s landmark scheme to support the very best emerging talents whose ambition is to build global, high end fashion brands for the future. The scheme offers designers financial support and showcasing opportunities at London Fashion Week to present their SS15 collection to influential press and buyers from around the world.
NEWGEN designers are identified by their creativity, strong design aesthetic and point of difference. The NEWGEN committee, chaired by Sarah Mower MBE, focused on selecting designers who are ready for the profile, platform and support that NEWGEN offers. The BFC, with support from the NEWGEN committee and TOPSHOP, will deliver individualised support and business seminars to assist the designers as they build their own infrastructure and skills.
“London's reputation for variety and excellence begins with NEWGEN. Apart from being the scheme which selects and supports the best young fashion entrepreneurs, NEWGEN is a listening-post for anyone who wants to tune into the future of fashion. Each new wave brings its own ideas - in 2014, they are a unique combination of highly specialist, highly-crafted and optimistically wearable. The selection committee's generosity with their time and mentorship is a phenomenal part of this support system, and TOPSHOP's commitment to funding and hosting NEWGEN designers is a foundation stone of British fashion today.” - Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and chair of the NEWGEN selection committee
Since its inception in 1993, NEWGEN sponsorship has acted as a promotional launch pad for young designers, attracting media profile, orders and investment whilst offering encouragement and support for new talent. Previous NEWGEN winners include Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, Erdem, Jonathan Saunders, J.W. Anderson, Mary Katrantzou, Nicholas Kirkwood, Roksanda Ilincic and Simone Rocha.
Mary Homer, Managing Director of TOPSHOP, commented
“At TOPSHOP, the support of young emerging British talent is still at the core of our business. The unique platform that we have developed with the British Fashion Council has helped launch an impressive number of British fashion stalwarts, and we are committed to the future and continued development of this initiative."
The NEWGEN committee comprises Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador of Emerging Talent (Chair); Alexander Fury, The Independent, The Independent on Sunday and i, Fashion Editor; Anna Orsini, British Fashion Council, Strategic Consultant; Caroline Rush, British Fashion Council, CEO; Francesca Burns, Fashion Editor, British Vogue; Kate Phelan, TOPSHOP, Creative Director; Laura Burlington, Fashion Consultant; Laura Hinson, British Fashion Council, Showcasing Manager; Laura Larbalestier, Browns, Buying Director; Madelaine Evans, TOPSHOP, Head of Buying; Mary Katrantzou, Mary Katrantzou, Founder and Creative Director; Melanie Rickey, Grazia, Pop and Ponystep Contributing Editor; Narmin Mohammadi, British Fashion Council, Head of Showcasing; Rebecca Lowthorpe, ELLE, Assistant Editor; Ruth Chapman, Matchesfashion.com, Co-Founder; Sheena Sauvaire, Chief Marketing Officer, TOPSHOP; Stavros Karelis, Machine A, Founder, and Susanne Tide-Frater, Fashion Consultant.
For designer profiles and collection images please visit: http://londonfashionweek.co.uk/newgen
‘Like’ British Fashion Council on Facebook for exclusive content www.facebook.com/britishfashioncouncil
Follow us on Twitter @londonfashionwk and join the conversation
#LFW
For press enquiries regarding NEWGEN at London Fashion Week please contact:
Sophie McElligott, British Fashion Council
+44 (0) 20 7759 1986
sophie.mcelligott@britishfashioncouncil.com
For designers wishing to apply for NEWGEN please contact:
Laura Hinson, British Fashion Council
+44 (0) 20 7759 1969
laura.hinson@britishfashioncouncil.com
For Topshop enquiries, please contact:
Clare Drummond, PR Manager, Topshop
+44 (0)20 7938 5909
clare.drummond@topshop.com