British Fashion Council announces Designer Fund Shortlist and Fashion Film AW15 Winners

Image above (from ‘British Fashion Council, Shaun James Cox’ ) features designers, left to right:-  Mary Katrantzou, Michael van der Ham, Osman Yousefzada, Holly Fulton, Emilia Wickstead, Amy Powney and Sophia Webster.

These  designers have been shortlisted by the BFC/Vogue Designer Fund Judging Committee, and each was selected as they are in a strong position to develop into a global designer brand and represent the best of London's thriving fashion talent.   The winner of the award will be announced Tuesday 24th March 2015. 

The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund provides one designer with a bespoke, high level mentoring support programme over a twelve month period, as well as a £200,000 grant to provide necessary infrastructure to take them to the next stage in their business.

The Fund, now in its sixth year is a legacy project from the BFC’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Previous winners of the Fund are Erdem (2010), Christopher Kane (2011), Jonathan Saunders (2012), Nicholas Kirkwood (2013) and Peter Pilotto (2014).

This year the BFC has created an exclusive online video series, Designer Fashion Fund, which follows the application process, designer journeys, interviews with the judging panel and features the previous winners of the Fund. The episodes will be published over the course of 2015 and can be viewed at youtube.com/BritishFashionTV and Vogue.co.uk

Separately the British Fashion Council has also announced three designers who have received  funding to create fashion films to be presented at London Fashion Week.  They are Gareth Pugh, House of Holland and Jean-Pierre Braganza.

The BFC’s Fashion Film initiative, sponsored by River Island, supports both menswear and womenswear designers wishing to use film as a medium each season. Fashion Film provides funding and on-schedule screening opportunities at either London Fashion Week or London Collections: Men (LC:M).

Since its inception in February 2012 Fashion Film has helped fund designers including Christopher Raeburn, Eudon Choi, Jonathan Saunders, Mary Katrantzou, Nicholas Kirkwood and Sibling to work with directors and producers such as Ellen Von Unwerth, Matt Lambert and Nick Knight. For designers wishing to apply for Fashion Film please contact:
Laura Hinson, British Fashion Council +44 (0) 20 7759 1969 | laura.hinson@britishfashioncouncil.com

For more information on Fashion Film please visit: britishfashioncouncil.com/fashionfilm