The British Fashion Council (BFC) today announces the ten Rock Vault designers who will showcase their AW13 collections at the Exhibition during London Fashion Week (LFW) 15th – 19th February 2013. BFC Rock Vault is sponsored by International Palladium Board and curated by Stephen Webster.
The designer brands selected to take part in this unique showcase are Alice Cicolini, new for AW13, Fernando Jorge, Hannah Martin, Husam El Odeh, Imogen Belfield, Jo Hayes Ward, Melanie Georgacopoulos, Sophie Bille Brahe, Tomasz Donocik and Yunus & Eliza.
As part of the new collaboration the jewellers have been invited to design a pair of red carpet earrings created in palladium. This precious white metal has the power to hold large gemstones in the most delicate of settings. The one of a kind earrings will celebrate the metal’s key attributes of lightness and strength and will be showcased within the dedicated Rock Vault area in the Exhibition at Somerset House during LFW.
The BFC Rock Vault, now in its third season, is a unique showcasing initiative developed to nurture the creative, fine jewellery talent based in London and to give designers the opportunity to further develop their businesses and increase exposure amongst UK and International media and retailers.
“Rock Vault is the only platform for British based progressive jewellery design and product. As the previous seasons have shown, there is as much diversity of talent and excitement within jewellery as any other sector represented at LFW. Jewellery buyers from the world over are now aware of Rock Vault, making London a key destination. Once again Rock Vault has been made possible by the generous support of International Palladium Board. This season’s designers have each been commissioned to create a pair of red carpet earrings demonstrating the unique qualities of the metal. On behalf of the panel and myself, we hope you find this season’s Rock Vault designers the most exciting to date.” - Stephen Webster
Brad Mills, Chairman of IPB, comments
“Rock Vault’s success to date has come down to the unique talent selected by the panel and the combination of so many wonderful jewellery designers with such varying styles. We are thrilled to be a part of this showcase and a supporter of the new palladium earring initiative. Each season we continue to be amazed by the beautiful jewellery created in palladium, a contemporary precious metal of the future. We hope this exhibition will inspire more designers to work with palladium and for retail consumers to consider the possibility of this wonderful new metal when buying jewellery. We look forward to another exciting year with BFC Rock Vault in 2013.”
The jewellers are selected to be part of the Rock Vault by a panel chaired by Stephen Webster and comprising of Alexandra Stylianidis, Liberty; Annalise Quest, Harrods; Caroline Broadhead, Central Saint Martins; Carol Woolton, Vogue UK; Catherine Nieto, Grazia; Jos Skeates, ECOne; Lara Bohinc; Liane Wiggins, Matches; Maia Adams, Adorn London; Maria Lemos, Rainbowwave; Rachel Duffy, Selfridges; Ruby Chadwick, Liberty; Valery Demure.
For more information please visit
www.britishfashioncouncil.com/rockvault
Image: Ring by Jo Hayes Ward, SS13
For press enquiries regarding BFC Rock Vault please contact:
Kimberly Carroll, British Fashion Council,
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7759 1987
kimberly.carroll@britishfashioncouncil.com
For press enquiries regarding International Palladium Board please contact:
Carla Gordon, Exposure
Tel: + 44 207 907 7130
carla.gordon@exposure.net
For designers wishing to apply for BFC Rock Vault please contact:
Katie Bain, British Fashion Council,
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7759 1978
katie.bain@britishfashioncouncil.com