It might be small geographically speaking, but the UK is one of the most important markets in the global fashion industry – and one which is particularly renowned for championing the very best emerging design talent and building some of the most successful brands of tomorrow.
The past few years alone have seen the likes of Nensi Dojaka, Richard Quinn, Alighieri, Halpern and Richard Malone garner more and more buzz, and the one thing they all have in common? They have all been recipients of the British Fashion Council's various grant-giving schemes, which support the finest fashion talent coming out of the country – and give them the boost and mentoring they need to succeed on a global stage.
For the 2022 programme, the BFC has just announced that a total of 35 designers across ready-to-wear and accessories have been shortlisted to receive grants in the coming year, all of whom 'truly showcase London's reputation as a global capital for the creative industries'.
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The most highly anticipated award each year is the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, which spotlights young designers who are not just highly talented but also making a difference to society. This year's award was presented last night by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, at London's Design Museum to the winner, Saul Nash.
'Nash has a unique way of combining function, tech and tailoring in his design practice which has resulted in a new take on luxe sportswear,' said Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the BFC. 'His work explores the relationship between performance and menswear and is often showcased through beautiful and show-stopping choreography. We are incredibly proud to recognise Saul and look forward to seeing his brand grow.'
For newer talent, there is BFC NEWGEN initiative, offering emerging designers financial support, showcasing opportunities and mentoring since its inception in 1993 – and chosen by a panel of industry experts which this year includes ELLE UK's new editor-in-chief, Kenya Hunt.
BFC NEWGEN has launched the careers of everyone from Alexander McQueen and Simone Rocha to Jonathan Anderson – so this year's list of recipients is the one to keep an eye on.
The 2022 NEWGEN cohort will comprise: Ahluwalia, ANCUȚA SARCA, ASAI, Bethany Williams, Chet Lo, Conner Ives, DI PETSA, EFTYCHIA, FEBEN, HARRI, HELEN KIRKUM, LABRUM London, Leo Carlton, MASHA POPOVA, Nensi Dojaka, Paolo Carzana, ROBYN LYNCH, ROKER, S.S.DALEY, SAUL NASH, Sinéad O'Dwyer, Stefan Cooke and yuhan wang.
The recipients of the BFC Fashion Trust's charitable grants for positive business growth have also been revealed, and will be awarded to Completedwords, E.L.V. Denim, Neous, Richard Malone, Supriya Lele, TOVE and Wales Bonner.
We can't wait to see what they all do next.
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
