The British Fashion Council has awarded grants totalling 350,000 pounds
between twelve London-based fashion designers through its Fashion Trust
initiative, a charitable scheme that supports designers through mentoring
and financial awards to promote the art and business of fashion.
The twelve British fashion labels who have won funding are: Eudon Choi,
Fyodor Golan, Gareth Pugh, Hillier Bartley, Holly Fulton, Huishan Zhang,
Marques’Almeida, Palmer/Harding, Phoebe English, Prism, Rejina Pyo and
Sibling.
Launched in 2011, the Fashion Trust is a philanthropic programme created
and developed in partnership with its co-chairs Tania Fares and Kim Hersov,
and the Fashion Trust Committee who works with the British Fashion
Council.
British Fashion Council chief executive Caroline Rush said: “We are
thrilled to be able to support these twelve designers through the BFC
Fashion Trust this year. The generous support of the BFC Fashion Trust
members and Farfetch continues to help in the development of these brands
and we are extremely excited to see how this initiative further enables
their creativity and growth.”
In April 2016, Farfetch became the first official partner of the Fashion
Trust, and the online marketplace will be offering the designers support by
providing advice and mentoring in the digital, e-commerce and global
markets. The designers will also be able to access to advice from Taylor
Wessing on copyright and IP law and the global investment firm
Rothschild.
Farfetch chief executive and founder, José Neves, added: “We are so
pleased to be supporting this extremely talented group of designers
alongside the BFC Fashion Trust. We recognise how important it is to
be supporting and nurturing design talent throughout the growth of their
brand and hope that our team of experts advising on digital, e-commerce and
global market expansion will prove invaluable to the development of each of
them.”
Some of the designers including Palmer/Harding have received funds
before from the Fashion Trust, they used it previously to move their
studio, and this year they plan to put the funds towards their first
full-time employee, as well as invest in stock for their website to push
the brand forward. Other previous recipients have used the funds to develop
stores, website/e-commerce and also in the production of
pre-collections.
First time recipients Marques’Almeida have earmarked the funds towards
the business needs of its label including intellectual property and
legalities, as well as investing in infrastructure, while Phoebe English
will be putting the money towards continued growth and increased output
following the launch of her menswear line, and rising star Rejina Pyo plans
to invest more in her e-shop platform.
Tania Fares and Kim Hersov, said: “Once again we are delighted to
support these talented designers for the year ahead. British fashion is
globally recognised for its energy and originality which is why supporting
the industry at grass roots is as vital as ever. These designers represent
the future of the British fashion industry and we hope the Fashion Trust
will further advance their position as global brands of the future.”
Image: Courtesy of British Fashion Council, Darren Gerrish