Mercedes-Benz is pleased to announce it will for the first time partner with the British Council and British Fashion Council (BFC) to collectively present work by emerging fashion designers from 26 countries for the sixth annual edition of the International Fashion Showcase (IFS) 2017 at Somerset House in February.
In line with Mercedes-Benz’ 2017 global fashion strategy in strengthening and further supporting the young and emerging talents through a wide variety of global initiatives, which has been started in January 2017 with the presentation of emerging Swiss designer Julia Seemann at Der Berliner Mode Salon during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, Mercedes-Benz will showcase five emerging designers the brand supports through its International Designer Exchange Programme (IDEP) in a dedicated area at IFS 2017. As part of its ongoing global fashion commitment, Mercedes-Benz continues to support, nurture and mentor young and emerging design talent through the IDEP, which offers up-and-coming designers a unique opportunity to present their collections outside of their local markets to an international audience. Launched in 2009, the Mercedes-Benz International Designer Exchange Programme is currently active across all of the Mercedes-Benz supported fashion platforms. The five designers being given this opportunity to showcase their designs during London Fashion Week are:
Angel Chen (China) graduated Central Saint Martins in 2014 to huge critical acclaim. She has since featured in many magazines and has won a number of awards. She was listed in Forbes ’30 under 30’ in 2016. Her brand is carried by stores around the world. Angel Chen was awarded the Mercedes-Benz China Design Award in S/S17 and will show her latest collection at Milan Fashion Week A/W17 as courtesy of Mercedes-Benz. Angel is at home at Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week.
Anna K (Ukraine) first showed a collection of clothes at 16 in Kiev and has since shown in London and New York. Her clothes are stocked in 40 stores in 25 countries. She was listed in Forbes ’30 under 30’ in 2016. Anna shows regularly at Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days and was presented at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid S/S17 as part of the IDEP.
David Ferreira (Portugal) graduated from the University of Westminster in 2015 winning the Fashion Scout Merit Award which helped him show at London Fashion Week the following season. He has now shown twice at London Fashion Week and will present his latest creations at London Fashion Week on 20 February, 2017. David has been awarded the Les Etoiles Mercedes-Benz Award at Paris Fashion Week S/S17 in collaboration with Alexis Mabille.
Steven Tai (Canada) graduated from Central Saint Martin’s in 2011 and established his womenswear label in London. Steven was awarded the Grand Prix of the Jury Première Vision of the International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyeres in 2012 and presented his collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin S/S13 as courtesy of Mercedes-Benz. He regularly presents his latest work at London Fashion Week.
William Fan (Germany) is German with Asian roots. He first showed at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin in spring 2015. The label collaborates with manufacturers in Germany and Hong Kong and has a high standard of traditional craftsmanship. William Fan was one of three German designers presented at Milan Fashion Week S/S17 by Mercedes-Benz and Fashion Council Germany and shows regularly at Berlin Fashion Week.
In addition, at a prize-giving ceremony during London Fashion Week on 19 February 2017, the Chair of the IFS Judging Panel Sarah Mower will announce a winning Country, Designer, and Curator. For the first time, Mercedes-Benz will present the winning Designer with the unique opportunity to showcase his or her collection at one of the 50+ Mercedes-Benz global fashion platforms, including London, Milan, Tbilisi and Kiev.
Michael Bock, Director Sport & Lifestyle Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars said: “For more than 20 years we have been committed to the world of fashion through promoting creative and talented people who represent both quality and variety in the fashion sector. We are excited to be partnering with the British Council and the British Fashion Council who are commitment to support, nurture and mentor emerging design talent on the International Fashion Showcase. The IFS is a fantastic platform which much like the objective of the Mercedes-Benz International Designer Exchange Programme, cross-pollinates between nations and creates a valuable commercial and critical platform for upcoming and established designers.”