Ahluwalia, Supriya Lele, and Stefan Cooke are among the 34 designers selected to receive the lifeline fund
Launched in 2019, the British Fashion Council Foundation fund has been a lifeline for numerous emerging designers, especially since the pandemic – where uncertainty, dropping sales, and shuttered shops and universities have affected fledgling designers the most.
Over the course of the past year, the BFC has raised £1.7 million for its foundation and talent support initiatives, and today the not-for-profit reveals the 34 designers it has selected to receive financial support grants from this pool of funding.
As well as allocating several scholarships to students starting out – with the aim of strengthening “those leading the way in terms of creativity, positive business growth, environmental and community impact as well as to increase the diversity of the talent pool” – the fund is divided between four support initiatives which spotlight some of the most exciting emerging designers of today. This BFC NEWGEN award is created in partnership with TikTok, BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund, BFC Fashion Trust and the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
“The UK has a reputation of having some of the most innovative and creative talent and, through the BFC Foundation, our aim is to improve equality, equity, and opportunity so that the fashion industry remains open to all,” says chief executive of the BFC, Caroline Rush. “Congratulations to all the designers and a big thank you to all the funders, judges and mentors for making the UK’s talent support network one of the most robust in the global market.”
See the full list of recipients below:
BFC NEWGEN recipients: Ahluwalia, Art School, Asai, Bianca Saunders, Conner Ives, Eftychia, Feben, Helen Kirkum, Labrum London, Matty Bovan, Nensi Dojaka, Paolo Carzana, Per Götesson, Richard Quinn, Robyn Lynch, Roker, S.s.daley, Saul Nash, Stefan Cooke, Supriya Lele, and Yuhan Wang. BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund recipients: Ahluwalia, Bethany Williams, Bianca Saunders, Feng Chen Wang, Nicholas Daley, Stefan Cooke. BFC/VOGUE DESIGNER FASHION FUND recipient: Bethany Williams. BFC Fashion Trust recipients: Art School, Completedworks, E.l.V. Denim, Halpern, Neous, Nicholas Daley, Wales Bonner. BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund recipient: Bethany Williams.