The British Fashion Council (BFC) today announced the names of 21 of
London’s brightest emerging fashion design talents that will receive
BFC NEWGEN sponsorship, supported by Topshop, to show at London Fashion
Week (LFW) in September 2010. NEWGEN, established in 1993, is one of
the world’s most internationally recognised talent identification
schemes. Its alumni include many great British designers including
Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson, Boudicca, Giles Deacon, Jonathan
Saunders and more recently designers who have directly contributed to
the anticipation that surrounds London during LFW with their innovative
vision and truly unique collections, including; Christopher Kane,
Marios Schwab, Richard Nicoll, Erdem and Meadham Kirchhoff.
The recipients of NEWGEN, sponsored by Topshop are:
Catwalk sponsorship: David Koma, Holly Fulton, Louise Gray, Mary Katrantzou, Michael van der Ham, Peter Pilotto.
Presentation sponsorship: Craig Lawrence.
Installation sponsorship: Christopher Raeburn,
Dominic Jones,
Fannie Schiavoni and
Yang Du.
Exhibition sponsorship: Atalanta Weller,
Chau Har Lee,
Christopher Raeburn,
Craig Lawrence,
David Koma,
Dominic Jones,
Fannie Schiavoni,
Felicity Brown,
Heikki Salonen,
Holly Fulton,
Jordan Askill,
J. JS Lee,
JW Anderson,
Louise Gray,
Mark Fast,
Mary Katrantzou,
Michael Lewis,
Michael van der Ham,
Peter Pilotto,
Yang Du
Three designers will be making their on-schedule debut this season;
Michael Van Der Ham has been awarded sponsorship for a standalone
catwalk show to showcase his asymmetric patchworked lurex, lame and
silk dresses. Holly Fulton’s collection of contemporary graphic dresses
and clean geometric lines will be shown back to back with David Koma’s
intricate, sculptural body-con dresses.
Continuing to show on the catwalk schedule with NEWGEN sponsorship is
Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto. Mary’s digital printed collection
last season presented photographic images of lace, jewels, medals and
glints of metallic whilst Peter Pilotto showed a pioneering collection
of constantly evolving twists on draped digital print.
Craig Lawrence’s elaborate knitwear recently worn by Lady Gaga will be
shown in a presentation format once again, as will Louise Gray’s
colourful, quirky, hand-embroidered collection.
Five first time NEWGEN exhibitors will feature in the exhibition this
season including Heikki Salonen, Felicity Brown and Yang Du. Heikki
showed an AW10 collection encompassing industrial-urban and military
trends as part of the Fashion East showcase whilst Yang Du’s surrealist
knitwear collections have already generated a cult following in both
Japan and China. Felicity Brown’s hand-dyed dresses with pleating,
folding and layering display an expert eye for detail developed through
her previous work for Alberta Ferretti, Loewe and Lanvin.
Also receiving NEWGEN sponsorship for the first time is Chau Har Lee
whose sculptural, laser-cut shoes will be on display in the exhibition
alongside existing NEWGEN shoe designers Atalanta Weller, who
challenges the boundaries of fashion footwear, and Michael Lewis who
worked for several established fashion houses before creating his own
new luxury footwear collection.
Former Ksubi and Dior Homme designer Jordan Askill will also be
receiving NEWGEN sponsorship for the first time to display his
conceptual jewellery line at LFW alongside the innovative and edgy
jewellery collections from Dominic Jones and Fannie Schiavoni.
Topshop continues its support of the NEWGEN scheme for the eighteenth
consecutive season. Offering additional support to designers by
providing show venues and commissioning special collections available
during and beyond London Fashion Week, Topshop directly contributes to
the business development of some of the most exciting design talents in
London today.
Caroline Rush, Joint Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council
commented, “NEWGEN is at the heart of the British Fashion Council’s
talent identification, designer development and showcasing programme.
This season we have a fantastic cross section of exciting, original and
talented emerging designers who we’re confident will continue to
strengthen London’s reputation as a creative capital.”
Sarah Mower, the BFC’s Ambassador for Emerging Talent, said, “The
breadth of talent that has come forward this season is really exciting.
London is growing to encompass jewellery and shoe designers as well as
ready to wear designers of many nationalities who see Britain as the
ideal platform for setting up new fashion enterprises. We're proud
that, in tough times, this flourishing creativity is an asset to the UK
economy, and that NEWGEN is one of the foundations of that unique
London culture."
Mary Homer, Managing Director of Topshop adds "NEWGEN lies at the heart of
London Fashion Week and ensures the rejuvenation and continued success
of our fashion industry. Eighteen seasons on and Topshop's commitment
to the scheme and its designers is stronger than ever, particularly in
the current financial climate when investment in the future is more
important than ever. This season there are twenty-one NEWGEN
recipients, more than ever before, highlighting the density of emerging
design talent in London and the healthy and ever-evolving state of our
fashion industry.”
London Fashion Week will run from Friday 19th September – Wednesday
22rd September 2010 and will be located at Somerset House, Strand WC2.
For more information on the NEWGEN designers visit
www.britishfashioncouncil.com/newgen