On Wednesday 4th May 2022, after gathering to celebrate this year’s winner of the Queen Elizabeth Award: Saul Nash, at the Design Museum, we then continued our celebrations at The NIKITIA Club in Mayfair, to announce the new winner of the BFC / Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
This year’s winner was Richard Quinn. At the beginning of the year, Richard moved into a new, larger studio in South London in order to house his growing collections and provide a more intimate space for his private clients’ fittings. This new space will also mean he is able to continue to print designs for other notable brands alongside his own, including Burberry, JW Anderson and Ports 1961.
Winning this fund will allow Quinn to pursue this momentum through 2022, we are excited to see his progress.
Edward Enninful OBE, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue and European Editorial Director, Vogue & Chair of the Fund Committee, said: “The BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is an integral initiative that supports emerging talent in the UK fashion industry. Congratulations to all the shortlisted designers who are a true reflection of the outstanding creative talent in the UK."
A special thank you to our BFC Foundation Patrons for coming along to support the event with Richard.
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The BFC recognises the value of positive growth, talent and excellence in design. Part of the vision around how to reset the industry includes understanding the breadth of fashion business models, with this in mind the criteria for this fund has been updated to reflect excellence in talent and positive development within businesses.
The 2022 shortlisted designers were; Chopova Lowena, Completedworks, E.L.V. DENIM, NEOUS, Nicholas Daley, Richard Malone, Richard Quinn & TOVE.
Since its inception, winners of The Fund include Erdem (2010), Christopher Kane (2011), Jonathan Saunders (2012), Nicholas Kirkwood (2013), Peter Pilotto (2014), Mary Katrantzou (2015), Sophia Webster (2016), Mother of Pearl & palmer//harding (2017), Molly Goddard (2018), WALES BONNER (2019) and Bethany Williams (2021), Richard Quinn (2022).
In 2020 at the onset of the COVID Crisis the decision was taken to pool the BFC talent support grants that would have traditionally been awarded for either early stage showcasing support or business growth and promotion. The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund had already completed the judging process, it was decided that the cash prize and mentoring award would be split across each of the six shortlisted brands for the very first time. The recipients were Alighieri, Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY, David Koma, Halpern, Metier and Rejina Pyo.
Clearpay will support the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund as Official Partner. With payment processes integral to supporting growth for designer businesses, BFC and Clearpay will align to drive the fashion and retail industry forward in 2022.
With thanks to Mishcon de Reya for their pro-bono legal services, and the BFC Fashion Business Network and one-to-one mentors.
Many thanks to Funders: Burberry, Vogue, Paul Smith and Rodial