The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce that HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations will partner with the BFC Fashion Trust to provide international expertise and mentoring to the initiative’s grant recipients.
The BFC Fashion Trust is a charitable initiative founded in February 2011 to offer selected designers mentoring and financial support to promote the art and business of fashion. The philanthropic programme is developed in partnership with its co-chairs Tania Fares and Sian Westerman along with the BFC and the BFC Fashion Trust Advisory Committee. In light of the new partnership, Daniel Howlett, Head of Large Corporates, UK, and Regional Head of Client Coverage, Europe will join the Fashion Trust Advisory Board.
In 2017 the BFC Fashion Trust awarded grants totalling £450,000 between eleven designers; the largest allocation of grants by the trust to date. The recipients for 2017 are Edeline Lee, Eudon Choi, Fyodor Golan, Georgia Hardinge, Huishan Zhang, Isa Arfen, Marques’Almeida, Osman, Rejina Pyo, Sharon Wauchob and Teatum Jones.
Tania Fares and Sian Westerman, commented:“We are absolutely thrilled about this new partnership with HSBC. Being one of the world’s largest financial services organisations, their involvement is a great opportunity for the designers supported by the BFC Fashion Trust as it will provide them with the unique platform to be mentored by a global financial leader. We are convinced that HSBC’s involvement will be fantastic for the designers and their businesses and are incredibly proud to be working with them.”
Daniel Howlett, Head of Large Corporates, UK, and Regional Head of Client Coverage, Europe commented: “The British fashion industry is envied around the world for its creativity, innovation and iconic longevity. We’re proud to be an official partner to the BFC Fashion Trust and to support UK businesses operating in a truly international industry. Our reach covers 90% of the world’s trade flow putting us in a unique position to provide advice and expertise for designers and retailers as they look for growth opportunities and continue to set global trends.”
Since its inception in 2011 the BFC Fashion Trust awarded over £1.6m to 39 designer businesses to help with critical business support such as developing websites, ecommerce platforms and bricks & mortar stores. The BFC Fashion Trust is part of a group of BFC business support initiatives and charities aimed at supporting British designers and businesses from school level to emerging talent, and future fashion start-ups through to new establishment and global brands.
For more information please visit: britishfashioncouncil.co.uk/fashiontrust