In 1993, the British Fashion Council created New Generation (NEWGEN), as one of the world’s most internationally recognised talent identification schemes to help promote new designers and their businesses. The scheme itself is sponsored by Topshop, who help catwalk designers receive financial support towards their show costs and usage of the BFC Catwalk Show Space during London Fashion Week. So let’s check out this season’s winners.
The super talented David Koma, Holly Fulton, Louise Gray and Michael Van der Ham have all been finely chosen to receive this season’s BFC Newgen catwalk sponsorship, to show during London Fashion Week for spring/summer 2012.
“I am ecstatic to be showing as part of NEWGEN again this season,” said Fulton. “For a new designer, it provides an invaluable platform from which to launch both your brand and your business, giving help not only with the season at LFW but also with the international sales and showrooms afterwards. It gives a great grounding from which to become familiar with the workings and logistics of showing on schedule and the myriad of unforeseen issues this can raise!”
“I feel extremely flattered and excited about my continued NEWGEN sponsorship,” added Van der Ham. “The new spring/summer 2011 collection is coming along great and I cannot wait for it all to be finished. I am working on expanding the collection into a wider product range within my own signature. Also I recently finished some special pieces for Bjork and working on a shoe collaboration with Christian Louboutin.”
Christopher Raeburn, Craig Lawrence, Dominic Jones, J.W. Anderson and Nasir Mazhar have also been selected to hold small presentations, while Jordan Askill and SISTER by SIBLING will both stage installations.
The exhibition funding will be given to Felicity Brown, J. JS Lee, James Long, Palmer//Harding, Thomas Tait and Tim Soar Woman.
And Soar, who launched his debut womenswear line this season, is thrilled to bits to have the support of the BFC.
“Thank you to everyone on the panel,” he said to Vogue UK. “The reception to the launch collection has been fantastic, and this NEWGEN award is a great start to spring/summer 2012. Womenswear is now integral to Tim Soar, and I am really thrilled to develop it into a full line for the second season and to present it at London Fashion Week in September.”
We can’t wait to see what these designers bring to the table in September!
