The winners of the NEWGEN sponsorship for SS14 (Image by Marius W Hansen)
The British Fashion Council have today announced the nine recipients of NEWGEN sponsored by Topshop initiative.
A covetable sponsorship that has seen previous winners include Alexander McQueen, Mary Katrantzou and Christopher Kane – to name just a small few.
The nine designers will receive sponsorship to showcase their SS14 collections at London Fashion Week this September 13-17.
Catwalk sponsorship will go to: J.JS Lee, Lucas Nascimento, Marques’Almeida, Simone Rocha, Sister by Sibling
Presentation sponsorship to: 1205, Nasir Mazhar, Sophia Webster
Exhibition sponsorship to: Liam Fahy
Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, commented: “It’s with pleasure that we are able to offer this incredibly talented and diverse group of designers NEWGEN support to help guide their journey towards commercial success both at home and overseas. All nine recipients sit at the helm of Britain’s creative success and we look forward to seeing their upcoming collections this September”.
As part of the BFC’s three year strategy to support growth in the sector, it is developing and broadening its designer business support.
The BFC have recognised that with growing international demand, existing and new schemes need to focus further on the designers at this crucial stage of their business development.
Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and chair of the NEWGEN selection committee, commented: "Being part of NEWGEN puts designers on a fast-track to international exposure, giving them the opportunity to learn how to do business and allowing them to meet with top level buyers and press. With the professional backup of an amazing volunteer team of NEWGEN industry committee members, all of the winners this season have honed their product and upped their game. We can't wait for London Fashion Week to see what they'll do".
NEWGEN will remain the BFC’s landmark scheme to support the very best emerging talents whose ambition is to build global, high end fashion brands for the future.
NEWGEN designers are identified by their creativity, strong design aesthetic and point of difference. This season the NEWGEN committee, chaired by Sarah Mower, focused on selecting designers that are ready for the profile, platform and support that NEWGEN offers.
The committee will form mentoring support groups for NEWGEN designers, the British Fashion Council will deliver a series of focused seminars and 1:1 workshops, and TOPSHOP, the long-term partner of NEWGEN has committed access to their team’s vast knowledge on all aspects of the business, to assist the designers as they build their own infrastructure and skills.
Mary Homer, Managing Director of TOPSHOP, commented: "Topshop is incredibly proud of its support of NEWGEN and it is a testament to the success of the platform that such a strong talent comes through every season. Topshop is committed to the future of NEWGEN, to ensure that we continue to help develop and nurture young British designers".
Since its inception in 1993, NEWGEN sponsorship has acted as a promotional launch pad for young designers, attracting media profile, orders and investment whilst offering encouragement and support for new talent.
Winners of the sponsorship in the image above:
(L-R) Liam Fahy, Cozette McCreery (Sister by Sibling), Paulo Almeida (Marques Almeida), Joe Bates (Sister by Sibling), Jackie Lee (J.JS Lee), Sid Bryan (Sister by Sibling), Paula Gerbase (1205), Marta Marques (Marques Almeida), Lucas Nascimento, Sophia Webster, Simone Rocha, Nasir Mazhar (not pictured).