The British Fashion Council have this week announced its annual programme of talent support.
Having remitted over £1.3m in funds to designers and scholars in the financial year 2021/2022, £932,500 was paid by the BFC Foundation as part of the BFC’s grant giving initiatives including scholarships and talent support schemes BFC NEWGEN, BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and BFC Fashion Trust; over £400,000 was paid to designers through brand partnership collaborations secured by the BFC.
The BFC Foundation aims to support the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on “education, grant-giving, and business mentoring”. Co-chaired by philanthropists and investors Narmina Marandi and Tania Fares, the charity dedicated to raising funds to maintain and grow its grant giving programmes with the support of an influential international Patronage Programme.
In a joint statement, Marandi and Fares say: “When we launched the BFC Foundation Patronage Programme at the end of 2020, we set an ambitious fundraising target. Despite a difficult year for so many, an incredible group of individuals stepped forward to donate and support the BFC Foundation and its grant giving initiatives.”
“The annual funds raised by the charity allow us to continue the important work the BFC does in supporting and nurturing talented designers at all stages of their careers, as well as making sure that the British fashion industry remains diverse and open to all”.
With Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Council adding: “The UK has a reputation of being the leading launchpad for innovative and creative talent mainly due to its world-leading universities for fashion education. This year’s list of designers truly showcases London’s reputation as a global capital for the creative industries, and we are delighted to be able to help so many of them through the BFC Foundation. 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.”
For the second year, Clearpay, London Fashion Week’s Principal Partner, will continue to support all the initiatives. Core to the brand’s business is supporting new and emerging brands, with the goal of accelerating the fashion and retail industry in 2022 and beyond.
