THE SPONSORS – SEPTEMBER 2008

London Fashion Week is the most exciting and dynamic event on the global fashion calendar.  It promotes established and emerging design talent to a global audience, directly supporting designer businesses to develop and grow in London.  London Fashion Week is organised by the British Fashion Council (BFC) and is funded by sponsors, many of which, provide services that have become integral to the unique experience London has to offer.  The BFC thank all of their sponsors, in particular principal sponsor Canon, for their ongoing support and for helping to directly affirm London's place as the Creative Capital of the global fashion industry.

CANON is principal sponsor of London Fashion Week

As principal sponsor, Canon will be providing a dedicated support centre for professional photographers on site to ensure that all accredited photographers have everything they need, from internet access and printers to a dedicated team of Canon support technicians. In addition, exclusive Canon buses will be shuttling photographers between shows to ensure they don't miss a moment of the capital's catwalks. All visitors to the event are invited to Canon's exhibition space, where Canon's award-winning range of professional imaging products will be available to try.

Contact: Lisa Boustead Tel. 020 7792 7421

LONDON DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

The London Development Agency is the Mayor's agency responsible for driving London's sustainable economic growth – it's our job to ensure that London remains a global success story. The fashion industry makes a vital contribution to the London economy.  The LDA supports the BFC and London Fashion Week to promote and enhance London's reputation as a leading fashion city.  Our aim is to promote London as a centre for emerging designer talent; creating and retaining sustainable fashion businesses in London.

Contact: Sarita Bhartia or Katy Atkins Tel. 020 7593 8400

BRITISH AIRWAYS

As a leader in innovation and design within the airline industry, British Airways is proud to be involved in London Fashion Week. This year, we have been able to offer fantastic fares to invited guests from around the world.  For those travelling to one of the most anticipated events on the fashion calendar, British Airways has a range of online services to make each travelling experience as smooth as possible. Visit ba.com for more information.

Contact: Amanda Allan Tel. 020 8738 3153

CHAMBORD

Chambord, the French black raspberry liqueur is returning to London Fashion Week this September as The Spirit of London Fashion Week, serving a selection of delicious Chambord cocktails from The Chambord Bar during Fashion Week and Weekend.

New editions this season will include a special promotion offering a complimentary bottle of Chambord 5cl with every 2 glasses of Moet bought or 2 complimentary bottles of Chambord 5cl with every bottle of Moet purchased.  Chambord will also be making a star appearance at London Fashion Week‘s most exclusive parties including Marie Claire's 20^th Birthday and the much anticipated Vivienne Westwood after-show cocktail reception.

Please enjoy Chambord responsibly.

Contact: Rachel Dunn, Flora Neeson or Grace Power Tel. 020 7802 8111

DRAPERS

Drapers is the leading weekly magazine for the UK fashion business and is a great means to keep up-to-date with the trends and happenings in the UK market. With weekly fashion news, breaking trends, pages of international catwalks, exclusive sales data and insightful features, Drapers is a fantastic way to stay on top of the fast-paced UK industry. Drapers is proud to be a sponsor of London Fashion Week. As the UK's leading weekly publication for the fashion industry, Drapers will be covering the must-have trends and catwalks from the show and translating them into commercial options for our readers.

Contact: Jessica Price Brown Tel. 020 7728 3532

EVENING STANDARD

As Official Media Partner to London Fashion Week, the Evening Standard – across three editions a day – will be bringing over half a million Londoners the very latest from the capital's catwalks. Added to this a dedicated edition of 'ES Magazine' cover dated September 12th will be available across London and all week exclusively in the LFW exhibition. With beautifully styled fashion photography and an unmistakably witty take on London fashion scene 'ES Fashion' will preview the names to watch and direct the readers to key colours & shapes for the incoming season.

Finally the on-line offering hasn't been forgotten with www.standard.co.uk keeping our 936,000 UK unique users as up to date as it's possible to be.

Contact: Jo Preston Tel. 0207 591 9610 / 07969 990 183

EVIAN

Evian® is proud to announce the continuation of their sponsorship of London Fashion Week – from the bustle of the backstage to the bright lights of the catwalk, Evian® is the perfect way for the fashion pack to rehydrate. Trends may come and go but Evian® remains an integral part of the fashion world, and is proud to be the official water of London Fashion Week this September.  Contact: Natascia Servini or Duane Holland Tel. 0207 100 7100

THE GEEK SQUAD

Geek Squad is once again the official provider of London Fashion Week's technology support.

Geek Squad, will be present throughout London Fashion Week, providing the technology support and WiFi connection for the event, as well as trouble shooting front of house and backstage to ensure the week goes without a technical glitch! Geek Squad Agents are readily identifiable by black trousers, white shirts, clip-on ties and signature smart car GeekMobiles^TM. They may not look it but they have fashion credentials – they have supported the last two London Fashion Week events and, once again, will be based in the Communications Centre.   Contact Jess Smith Tel. 0208 617 4371

LAVAZZA

Lavazza, the UK's favourite real coffee brand and Official Coffee to London Fashion Week for the 12^th season will be serving delicious coffees to fashionistas throughout the show. This season sees something very exciting from Lavazza. During the event Lavazza will unveil a new innovation from the Italian coffee experts. ‘A Modo Mio' a new coffee capsule machine created for a true Home Barista experience and an object of true Italian design expertise will launch to the LFW audience with style this September.

Contact Kate Griffiths, Nicola Hamilton or Lawson Dodd Tel. 020 7535 1355

LG

LG Electronics (LG), a global leader in consumer electronics, makes its third appearance at London Fashion Week this autumn as the official consumer electronics provider. LG will be making a bold statement in the world of fashion with a new cutting edge TV collection which takes style and sophistication straight from the catwalk into the home.

The spotlight will be on LG's latest LCD and plasma range as they make a guest appearance in and around London Fashion Week in September. LG playback zones featuring the company's latest design-collection, The LG Scarlet, will be prominent throughout the event, playing footage of the previous day's catwalk shows. Edited every night, they will allow guests to get close to the action at any point in the week, ensuring they don't miss a thing.

Contact Rachel Cotton or Lucy Dee Tel 020 7386 1576

M*A*C COSMETICS

M·A·C Cosmetics, the professional makeup artist brand, plays an integral part in fashion around the world – sending over 50 M·A·C Pro Team makeup artists to work backstage with designers and creators at over 150 shows at the International Collections – with over 37 of these being in London.

M·A·C will also be hosting the M·A·C Media Lounge in the main London Fashion Week Exhibition Tent at the Natural History Museum. The Lounge will be the definitive destination for press, designers, models and fashion insiders to catch up on daily catwalk make-up trends, exclusive backstage video footage from the shows and to book in for one to one M·A·C make-up applications.

Fashion is part of the DNA of M·A·C – it inspires our artists and products worldwide. M.A.C is proud to take the lead in beauty as the Official Makeup Sponsor of London Fashion Week.

Contact Ruth Wiles Tel. 0870 034 6858

THE MAY FAIR

This season, the May Fair Hotel will be at the nerve centre of British style. The hotel will host the BFC's International soiree, one of the hottest parties of the year. Tickets will be rarer than gold dust, with a guest list that includes the fashion world's biggest players and most glamorous elite. Meanwhile, May Fair Hotel will ensure that the energy and buzz of fashion week is available to everyone, not just fashion designers, editors, models and industry types. The May Fair Bar will feature a ‘Reviver Corner' offering oxygen fixes, invigorating high-energy cocktails and mini-treatments, courtesy of the May Fair's team of beauty therapists. Meanwhile, the spa will offer a grand selection of bespoke beauty options with reviving treatments and Microdermabrasion and oxygen facials to guarantee camera-ready radiance.

Contact: Car? Sanders Tel. 020 3178 6212

MOËT AND CHANDON

Moët & Chandon and Gareth Pugh have, once again, teamed up to create the only Gareth Pugh experience at London Fashion Week this coming season.

For the first time ever, Gareth has turned to interior design to create the Moët Room. A haven far removed from the frenzy of fashion week for press and VIPs alike, the Moët Room is in its fourth season, and will be completely transformed by Gareth's own unique vision.

Playing with light, space and futuristic visions, The Moët Room by Gareth Pugh will be far removed from previous incarnations.

Contact: Laura Foster Tel. 020 7245 4253, or Emily Harris Tel. 020 7245 4370

MONSOON

Monsoon is proud to continue its sponsorship of estethica for the third season.  The exhibition is London Fashion Week's much-acclaimed platform entirely devoted to the best in eco-sustainable fashion.  estethica has been instrumental in raising general awareness and promoting the concept of sustainable fashion within the industry and to the public, and as founding members of the Ethicial Trading Association, Monsoon is deemed a natural choice to sponsor this important movement.  Founded by chairman Peter Simon in 1973, this 35^th Anniversary year sees Monsoon celebrating over three decades of style.

Contact: Louise Worrell or Rebecca Rodgerson Tel. 0203 372 3101/3102.

RED BULL

Red Bull, the fuel of London Fashion Week is back again for a sixteenth season offering much needed energy from its backstage bar at the main catwalk at the BFC tent. By day the fashion week favourite ‘Designer Fuel' and other Red Bull and fresh fruit blended cocktails and smoothies will be served from the Aminaka Wilmont designed bar by mixologists dressed in bespoke outfits also created by the duo.

By night Red Bull will be keeping London's fashion elite going until the early hours as it hosts the Temperley and Erdem after show parties. Ensuring everyone at London Fashion Week has all they need to get through the shows Red Bull will also be supplying selected designers throughout the season with regular deliveries of Red Bull for their studios and fueling the press cars and photographers bus for the busy week. 

Contact: Hannah Wright Tel. 020 7434 5731

RENAULT

Renault UK are offering the best seats in the house at London Fashion Week in a stylish, luxurious fleet of top-of-the-range Grand Espaces and new Lagunas. Models and accredited journalists will be whisked around the capital between catwalk shows, ensuring a welcome moment of rest and relaxation. Renault is delighted to be, once again, the official car of the event and wishes all exhibitors a successful week. 

Contact Mandy Hopkins Tel. 01923 698545

TONI&GUY – Official Haircare Sponsor to London Fashion Week

Proud to continue its support of British Fashion – TONI&GUY approach a ninth season as ‘Official Haircare Sponsor to London Fashion Week'.

Creating the link with hair and fashion, TONI&GUY is the only hairdressing Superbrand – voted for a second time in 2008. The sponsorship of Fashion Week has seen our involvement grow to incorporate support of key fashion talent and TONI&GUY is proud to sponsor celebrated designer, Giles Deacon for a second consecutive season.

This season will also see the launch of the exciting new aesthetic for label.m haircare range.  With a totally luxe-feel design concept, linear silhouettes, matt-meets-gloss surface finishes in monochrome, plus exciting new haircare innovations – watch out for label.m in all the best goody bags across the schedule.

"Over the past nine seasons, we have increased our commitment to fashion to include sponsorship of some of the most exciting British design talent. Hairdressing is an integral part of fashion and to be the ‘Official Haircare Sponsor to London Fashion Week' is the perfect opportunity to re-enforce our position as fashion leaders within our industry, to get our teams involved behind the scenes and support home grown British talent." – Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck – Global Creative Director for TONI&GUY Media. 

Contact Karen Harper Tel. 07795 820066

TOPSHOP

Topshop has sponsored New Generation since 2002. Now in its fourteenth season, the prestigious scheme has achieved global recognition for bolstering the careers of some of the most exciting design talents in London today.  Supporting the grass roots of the fashion industry lies at the heart of the brand's ethos and Topshop traditionally provides those passing through the scheme with show venues and additionally, collaborates to produce special collections which are available during London Fashion Week.

This season, winners include some of the best new designers who have each demonstrated a notable quality of individuality and craftsmanship in their work.  Louise Goldin, Danielle Scutt, MeadhamKirchhoff, House of Holland and Peter Pilotto receive catwalk sponsorship while exhibition recipients include Simone Shailes, Emilio de la Morena, Felder•Felder, Hannah Marshall, Mary Katrantzou, Kirkwood, Peter Pilotto, Poltock & Walsh and Sandra Backlund.

An average of 300,000 people visit the flagship store in Oxford Circus over London Fashion Week. This season, the store delivers a slice of LFW to shoppers with screenings of sponsored shows (including live backstage footage) followed by Podcasts via TOPSHOP.COM.  Suzy Radcliff (of Radcliff jeans) hosts a denim clinic while hairstylist James Brown and M.A.C will be providing consultations and new tips for the season ahead.  Louise Goldin has produced a beautiful exclusive carrier bag for London Fashion Week and in-store DJs over the week include Ladyhawke and Thomas Tantrum. 

Following Topshop's Unique show on 14^th September, the provision of a venue remains, with production for seven designers including Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Todd Lynn, Louise Goldin, Ann-Sofie Back, Peter Jensen and Emma Cook.  Topshop will also host a New Gen café at the official LFW site. 

Louise Goldin, Markus Lupfer, Todd Lynn, MeadhamKirchhoff and Ann-Sofie Back have created signature capsule collections for the store, available from Oxford Circus flagship, selected stores and online at TOPSHOP.COM from 12^th September 2008.  Emma Cook and Peter Jensen's for Topshop collections follow in October 2008.

Contact: Andrew Leahy Tel. 0207 927 1514 or Amy Elderton Tel. 020 7291 2415

U.K.T.I.

UK Trade and Investment is the Government organisation that supports both companies in the UK doing business internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to locate in the UK. We offer a range of services to assist British companies in developing their activities overseas or to promote certain product sectors by means of presentations, seminars and broader initiatives. UK Trade and Investment includes the foreign and commonwealth office, a multinational network and a world leader in trade development and investment promotion.

Contact: Barbara Wilson Tel. 020 8993 2216

With thanks to Absolute Flowers, Mulberry, Ormande Jane and Rowenta.

–          Ends –

For further information on the sponsors for London Fashion Week please contact:

Gemma Ebelis or Kate McGee: Tel. 0207 851 4655

Email. gemma@crushcommunications.co.uk / kate@crushcommunications.co.uk