BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL ANNOUNCE ‘FASHION FORWARD’ WINNERS

Fashion Forward was established in 2006 to provide funding to emerging talented British designer businesses to show and develop their businesses in London.  To be eligible designers will either have progressed through NEWGEN or be at a similar stage in their business.  London Fashion Week is the most creative and dynamic event on the international fashion calendar promoting established and emerging British design talent to a global audience. Fashion Forward is a key BFC initiative to promote emerging design talent. The award provides the winner with a cash prize to assist in showing their collection as well as access to business support provided by the BFC.

Fashion Forward applicants are judged by a panel of key industry representatives including Averyl  Oates, Retail Expert;  Caroline Rush, CEO, BFC; David Watts, Business Support Manager,  BFC;  Francesca  Burns, Fashion  Editor,  Vogue;  Ruth  Chapman,  Co-Founder, Matches and Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador of Emerging Talent, Contributing Editor to US Vogue and AmericanVogue.com.

Previous Fashion Forward winners include Christopher Kane, Erdem, Giles Deacon, Jonathan Saunders, Louise Goldin, Marios Schwab, Meadham Kirchhoff, Peter Pilotto, Richard Nicoll, Roksanda Illincic, Sinha-Stanic and Todd Lynn.

Caroline Rush, CEO, British Fashion Council, commented “The recipients for this year’s Fashion Forward sponsorship are an exceptionally talented group of designers. 2012 is set to be a momentous year not only for fashion industry but the UK and I am looking forward to seeing Henry, Louise, James and Mary, taking strides forward in their business development. Menswear in London will be put in the spotlight this year making now the perfect time to introduce a menswear prize to Fashion Forward.”