We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2023/24 BFC Foundation BA and MA Scholarships. The scholarships provide funding to those who have an offer from, or are currently studying for, a MA or BA at a BFC Colleges Council member university. Through its education initiatives, the BFC Foundation aims to underpin and future proof the next generation of creative talent.
Ten new MA students will be awarded this year, joining one current MA recipient. Additionally, ten new BA students will be awarded this year, joining five returning BA recipients. All applications are assessed based on talent and need, using information provided during the application process including the applicant’s portfolio and financial circumstances. Shortlisted applications are reviewed by panels consisting of fashion educators and key industry representatives.
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council said: “A huge congratulations to this year’s BFC Foundation BA and MA Scholarship recipients - this is a testament to your brilliant vision, hard work and dedication. Strengthening and future proofing the pipeline of fashion talent is core to the work of the BFC and now more than ever, it is critical to support BA and MA students at such a fundamental time in their technical and creative development. We look forward to watching this incredibly talented and innovative cohort grow and develop over the course of the academic year.”
Sarah Mower (panel Chair), Chief Critic. Vogue Runway, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent said: “The BFC scholarship scheme, and the programme which is built into it, is a crucial means of combatting the barriers to opportunities represented by rising fees, living expenses and costs in UK fashion education. Every year, we are impressed and humbled by the variety and depth of the stories and social purpose students are expressing.
With the right financial support, their ideas and solutions will positively shape the future of the fashion industry at large - not just in the UK, but globally. That’s why we are incredibly grateful to Dior and Chanel, in supporting named BFC scholarships. I’d like to urge more companies to come forward to see and enjoy from engaging with this scheme - the value of it is always as much in what young people can teach us, as the other way around.”
MA Scholarship Recipients
This year’s recipients are Central Saint Martins’ students Benjamin Savizon and Frankie Staples. The MA Scholarship is available to students accepted on an MA Fashion Design course at a BFC Colleges Council member university. The scholarship goes towards course tuition fees and/or course costs or living expenses.
MA Final Year Scholarship Recipients
This year’s recipients are Ellis Routledge, Gracey Owusu-Agyemang, Jonathan Ferris and Zachary Anderson from Central Saint Martins, and Jamie Backshall, University of Westminster. The MA Final Year Scholarship is offered to students in their final year of an MA Fashion Design course at a BFC Colleges Council member university to cover costs to produce their final collections.
CHANEL MA Scholarship Recipients
This year’s recipient is Nusra Nijimbere, Royal College of Art. The CHANEL MA scholar returning this year is Joshua Ewusie, Central Saint Martins. The MA Scholarship, funded by CHANEL, is in its fourth year. It covers contribution to the course tuition fees, course costs and living expenses. Amanda Harlech will continue to provide mentoring support to both recipients for the duration of their scholarship.
DIOR MEN MA Scholarship Recipient
This year’s recipient is Zeshaan Iqbal, University of Westminster. The MA Scholarship, funded by DIOR, is in its fourth year. It covers contribution to the course tuition fees, course costs and living expenses. Additionally, scholars are provided with a direct point of contact from the DIOR MEN design team, to provide advice and mentoring support for the duration of their scholarship.
Joe Casely-Hayford MA Scholarship Recipient
The first ever recipient is Taya Francis, Nottingham Trent University. Introduced this year, the Joe Casely-Hayford MA Scholarship honours Casely-Hayford’s incredible legacy as well as supports and provides funding to young talent from Black and mixed heritage backgrounds as they start their journey in the fashion industry. Through this scholarship, Taya is provided access to the BFC Scholars program and receives advice and mentoring from the Casely-Hayford family and team.
BA Scholarship Recipients
This year’s recipients are Aaron Adkins, Manchester Fashion Institute; Aliyah Dankwah, University of Westminster; and Luke Saul and Zahra Al-Najjar from Central Saint Martins. The BA scholars returning this year are James Rowland, University of Westminster; and Jeongmin Ji and Roy Carmona from Central Saint Martins. The BA Scholarship is open to students commencing their degree or part way through, who have a confirmed place on a BA Fashion Design course at a BFC Colleges Council member university. The scholarship goes towards course tuition fees with a contribution to course costs or living expenses.
BA Final Year Scholarship Recipients
This year’s recipients are Alexander Mills and Malika Deanne-Augustus from London College of Fashion; Hanna Pachuta, University of East London; and Andrew Kent, Sabreen Hassan, Stella Satie and Yodea Marquel Williams-Braham from Central Saint Martins. The BA Final Year Scholarship is open to students in their final year of a BA Fashion Design course at a BFC Colleges Council member university. The funding aims to cover costs for students’ final collections.
For 2023/2024 the BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 1185152) made £250,000 available to its twenty-six MA and BA scholars. The BFC Foundation brings all the BFC charitable initiatives under one umbrella; supporting the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on three areas: Education, Grant-Giving and Business Mentoring. Link to scholars’ web page here.
Caroline Issa (panellist), Fashion Director, TANK said: “As funding for culture and the arts gets cut further and further in the UK, it is now an imperative that the BFC and their partners step up to serve as champions for creativity and innovation, the very lifeblood of what makes the UK unique. It is a gift, and never taken for granted, that a non-profit such as the BFC Foundation can offer critical support for young creatives at the educational level. To see the breadth of ideas, stories and personal commitment that the student nominees and winners have is truly breathtaking.”
Lucy Beeden (panellist), Design Director, Kim Jones Studio said: “Fashion studios are often not very diverse, and not everyone has the opportunity to even dream about studying for a career in fashion, it’s a notoriously expensive discipline to study. Scholarship funds are so important to open doors into a fairly exclusive world that, frankly, needs an injection of talent from all types of backgrounds.
Working with the BFC on this scholarship has been exciting and eye-opening to say the least. There’s some huge talent out there and I firmly believe that it’s our responsibility to encourage and support that change from the inside of the industry. The students we met were all fascinating and their work so diverse and interesting, and it reaffirmed my feeling that we would have a much richer industry if it included some of these ambitious and passionate students.”
The 2023/24 panels were chaired by Sarah Mower MBE, Chief Critic, Vogue Runway, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and were made up of: Alice Casley-Hayford, Content Director, NET-A-PORTER; Amanda Johnston, Curator & Educational Consultant, The Sustainable Angle; Andrew Ibi, Artist, Designer & Educator, Co-Founder, BOLD; Co-Founder, FACE; Caroline Issa, Fashion Director, TANK; Foday Dumbuya, Founder & Creative Director, Labrum London; Heather Gramston, Head of Womenswear, Browns; Jeanie Annan-Lewin, Creative Director, The Perfect Magazine; Karen Binns, Editor & Publisher; Kate Brindley, Communications Consultant; Lucy Beeden, Design Director, Kim Jones Studio; Natalie Kingham, Brand, Fashion & Commerce Consultant; Odunayo Ojo, Founder, Fashion Roadman & Editor-in-chief, The Fashion Archive Magazine; Stavros Karelis, Founder Creative & Buying Director, MACHINE-A; Wilson Oryema, Artist, Writer, Sustainability Advocate.