The British Fashion Council and the British Council has announced that
the sixth edition of its annual International Fashion Showcase will return
to Somerset House in February and feature emerging fashion designers from
25 countries.
The showcase forms part of the London Fashion Week Festival and gives
the public the opportunity to “celebrate fashion and its universal
relevance” said the British Fashion Council, as well as give emerging
designers the opportunity to engage with a wider audience.
This year’s theme is ‘Local/Global’ and the selected 25 countries have
been invited to explore the influence of place on fashion and to examine
how emerging designers can transform their local culture into a global
language.
There will be 15 rooms, 14 of which will represent a specific country,
while one will feature a group installation curated by Shonagh Marshall
that will feature designers from 10 further nations, as well as a dedicated
space for new sponsors Mercedes-Benz to showcase six emerging designers the
brand has previously supported through its International Designer Exchange
Programme.
The event will also be supported by a series of business support
seminars, organised by London College of Fashion, which aims to help
designers prepare for the showcase. The Designer Support Programme will
bring together a network of LCF affiliated academics and researchers, to
offer mentoring opportunities and business development during the
International Fashion Showcase. There will also be a collaboration with
Fashion Scout offer designers involved the opportunity to show their work
on the catwalk.
Sarah Mann, director of architecture, design, fashion at the British
Council, said: “The International Fashion Showcase continues to go from
strength to strength, providing a unique opportunity for emerging fashion
designers from all over the world to demonstrate the strength and diversity
of global fashion during London Fashion Week.
“This year’s theme; Local/Global, takes fashion’s connection to its
local context as its starting point, looking at and how young designers are
exploring identity in an increasingly globalised world. The standard of
work presented at IFS never fails to impress, and I look forward to seeing
the diversity and innovation of the designers taking part in this year’s
exhibition.”
There will also be a prize-giving ceremony scheduled to place during
London Fashion Week in February 2017, chaired by a panel of industry
experts that will announce a winning Country, Designer, and Curator.
Additionally, Mercedes-Benz will also present the winning designer with the
unique opportunity to showcase his or her collection at one of the
currently more than 50 Mercedes-Benz Fashion platforms.
Since 2012, the International Fashion Showcase has hosted 550
international designers from 70 countries. This year’s event will take
place from February 17-21 at Somerset House, London.
Images: courtesy of British Fashion Council/British Council from the
2016 International Fashion Showcase