London Fashion Week February 2020 Public-Facing Shows Line-Up Announced: Temperley London & De La Vali

Today, the British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce the initial catwalk schedule for the public-facing shows at London Fashion Week February 2020. This season, Temperley London and De La Vali will both be hosting catwalk shows open to the public on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th February 2020.  

LONDON FASHION WEEK FEBRUARY 2020 PUBLIC-FACING SHOWS SCHEDULE

Saturday 15th February

Temperley London, SS20 collection

10am

12:30pm

3pm

5:30pm

Sunday 16th February

De La Vali SS20 collections

10am

12:30pm

3pm

5:30pm

Tickets now on sale here

Standard tickets are priced at £135 and VIP tickets at £245. There is a 20% off early bird discount available
from Wednesday 4th December – Wednesday 11th December. 

London Fashion Week September 2019 was the first international fashion week to open its doors to a wider public, offering dedicated experiences for both a trade and public audience through one dynamic schedule. Following its success, the format returns for London Fashion Week February 2020. Ticket holders will have access to The Store X, 180 Strand, the official hub of London Fashion Week, home to the BFC Catwalk Space; the Positive Fashion Designer Exhibition, the initiative designed to champion industry best practice and encourage future business decisions to create positive change; the DiscoveryLAB: an experiential space where fashion meets art, technology and music.

Alongside the catwalk line-up, London Fashion Week ticket holders will also have access to industry-led talks and panel discussions with key industry figures, who will share unprecedented insight to the fashion industry. September 2019 saw speakers such as Billy Porter, Eva Chen, Henry Holland and IAMDDB taking part in the event. The line-up of talks and designers taking part in the Positive Fashion Designer Exhibition will be announced at a later stage. Ticket holders will receive a complimentary drink and tote bag. 

The generosity and commitment of our sponsors, suppliers and supporters is more vital than ever. Please help us by acknowledging their support for London Fashion Week February 2020: Official Partners: Evening Standard, JD.COM, INC., LAVAZZA, LetsBab, The Store X, Mercedes-Benz, The May Fair Hotel, TONI&GUY and Official Suppliers: Bags of Ethics, DHL, Fashion and Beauty Monitor, Getty Images, Launchmetrics and S by sloggi and our Official Supporters: The Department for International Trade, The European Regional Development Fund and The Mayor of London.

British Fashion Council Celebrate the launch of BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by JD.com Inc.

The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce the launch of the 2019 BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by JD.com Inc, a £150,000 cash prize with 12 months high-level mentoring to accelerate the winner’s business and grow its global reputation. Caroline Rush, CEO British Fashion Council and Dylan Jones, Chair of Menswear and Editor in Chief of British GQ hosted a reception at Annabel’s Private Member’s Club to celebrate the re-start of this incredibly important menswear fund and to officially open applications.

Leading Chinese company JD.com Inc. generously supports the BFC/GQ Menswear Fund as part of a two-year sponsorship deal that was announced in September 2018 as part of the BFC’s China Partnerships Strategy 2018-2020. With China being the world’s second largest consumer and luxury market and an increased interest from Chinese consumers for British designers, the partnership allows the BFC to help design talent better engage with the Chinese market as part of the fund’s mentoring programme and JD.com’s goal to expand its global fashion presence and bring more British brands to China. 

Dylan Jones, Chair of Menswear British Fashion Council & Editor in Chief of British GQ said: “The UK is known globally for its creativity and innovative design talent. The fund enables us to support designer businesses through mentoring and to award one designer a cash prize which will help them make significant changes within their business and grow their profile further on an international stage.” 

Caroline Rush, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council commented: “We are thrilled to be launching the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund with the support of JD.com Inc. Xia Ding and her team have already been incredible partners and it’s a real pleasure to work with them to support the brilliant menswear designers that we have here in the UK.  We look forward to receiving all the applications and to finding the next menswear global brand!"

Xia Ding, President of JD International Fashion said: “It is always a pleasure to support designers from the UK and the rest of the world. As China’s largest retailer, we are thrilled to be part of this initiative, which combines fashion and e-commerce to introduce talented international designers to China’s discerning consumers.”

The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by JD.com Inc. is the UK’s biggest menswear prize for emerging talent. The prize was established in September 2013 following the success of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.  The Fund is aimed at businesses that have been trading for over three years, with UK and international stockists. The shortlisted designers will be chosen according to their potential to develop into a global designer brand and to benefit from the level of support the Fund offers. Previous winners include Craig Green, E. Tautz and Christopher Shannon.

Please apply here for the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by JD.com Inc.
The deadline to submit applications is 20th February 2019.

BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund Announces Applications are Open for 2019

The British Fashion Council is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2019. Established in 2008, The Fund aims to discover new talent and accelerate growth over a twelve-month period through mentoring and awarding a cash prize of £200,000.

The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund receives the generous support of British Vogue, Burberry, JD.com Inc., Label/Mix, Paul Smith, Rodial and TOPSHOP.

Applications are strongly encouraged from all over the UK; the application process encourages brands to think strategically about the Fund’s core objective of business growth. All shortlisted designers will receive a full mentoring programme through the BFC’s business support team, with access to funders and industry experts. For the 11th year the Fund will award one winner and help bring new knowledge to designer businesses and the finance to put towards a full time or consultant team member but also to advise on areas such as accountancy, merchandising, business strategy, international growth, retail and e-commerce.

Edward Enninful OBE, Editor-in-Chief British Vogue and Chair of the Fund Committee, said: " The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is a hugely important initiative and I am thrilled to open applications for 2019. This award highlights the diverse and inspirational design talent we foster in the UK, and I'm excited to see who will impress us as we move forward."

Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive British Fashion Council, commented: “We are thrilled to open applications for the 2019 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. It is incredible to see the work of the applicants year after year, demonstrating the depth and breadth of the talent we have in the UK. The Fund provides a huge opportunity for both the shortlisted designers and the winner to gain invaluable knowledge and experience from our expert mentors and incredible monetary investment to grow and develop their brand on a global stage.”

Applicants need to be over three years in business, based in the UK and their collection should consist of womenswear and/or womenswear accessories. Applicants should have both UK and international stockists and should be able to demonstrate support from media. Applicants should be able to demonstrate to the judging panel a clear vision on how The Fund will contribute to the growth of their business. Full details on eligibility for The Fund can be found here.

Applications for The Fund will close on 7th February 2019.

The 2018 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund was won by Molly Goddard and previous winners of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund include, Christopher Kane, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Mother of Pearl, palmer//harding, Peter Pilotto, Sophia Webster.

Sixteen of the World’s Best Emerging Fashion Designers to Exhibit in London at the International Fashion Showcase 2019

International Fashion Showcase 2019
Brave New Worlds
The Changing Landscape of Fashion
11-24 February 2019
www.internationalfashionshowcase.com 
#IFS2019
Somerset House, West Wing Galleries 
Free Admission

The International Fashion Showcase (IFS) nurtures and presents work from the best up-and-coming fashion talent from around the world. The biennial fashion presentation is a partnership between the British Council, British Fashion Council, London College of Fashion, UAL and Somerset House.

For London Fashion Week this February, the showcase has a new format. For the first time, 16 selected designers from across the globe will showcase a series of compelling installations to represent their respective country. The designers will explore politics, sustainability, identity and heritage and show their latest designs in immersive environments.

The 16 countries represented are: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, India, Georgia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Vietnam. 

Some highlights of the exhibition include: 

• Duran Lantink from the Netherlands - whose ‘vagina’ trousers drew global attention in Janelle Monae’s PYNK video - will present Straight from the sale bins questioning the permanent state of sale and discount in the fashion industry, casting a critical eye on the phenomena of Black Friday and the resulting sales riots. He will also present 0% Duran, Lantink’s brand which creates fashion without production.
• Cedric Mizero will use objects from everyday life in a Rwandan village to draw attention to the marginalised communities and cultures in his country. However, rather than focus on the negatives often associated with rural life in a developing country, Mizero will celebrate the wealth of village life.
• Tom Trandt – the founder of Môi Điên in Vietnam - will use UV lights to reveal embroidered slogans of protest about his home country where dissent is illegal.
• Laura Laurens will present work from her ongoing collaboration with three LGBTQ+ members of Colombia’s indigenous Emberá community.
  British Bangladeshi designer Rahemur Rahman is working with young people aged 13-19 from his home borough of Tower Hamlets to produce elements of his space. Working to a creative brief, each will earn an Arts Awards qualification for their participation, which Rahman hopes will support their pathway into working in the creative industries. 
• Kenyan jewellery designer Ami Doshi Shah will use salt as the main medium of her collection, pointedly located in the West Wing of Somerset House, once home to the British Empire’s Salt Office. 
• Thebe Magugu from South Africa seeks innovative ways to present women and their role within South African society today. HIs designs feature motifs from Africa’s story-rich past but with a forward-looking, global approach. His installation will illustrate the profound changes in South Africa. 

Sarah Mower MBE British Fashion Council Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Chief Critic at Vogue.com, said:

“As vast, daunting and digitally-driven as the fashion industry can be, the most vital, exciting ideas often originate from self-expression and personal relationships. This year, by inviting the 16 emerging designers to London for a summer residency, the International Fashion Showcase took the principle of fostering personal exchange and interaction to the next level. The results of the experience were unexpectedly electric for all involved. Put simply, the knowledge, eye-opening conversations and creative energy sparked in all directions across the group.”

​The free exhibition is a key part of London Fashion Week, giving both the public and industry professionals the opportunity to discover emerging fashion from five continents: Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe and to celebrate its global relevance. The collections presented offer a balanced mix of womenswear and menswear exploring topical but universally shared issues and present new ideas and solutions that are shaping fashion globally.

In another first, these designers will be supported through a bespoke online programme, developed by London College of Fashion, UAL, which will cover all aspects of business development from branding to sales and production to sustainability. They also travelled to London in August 2018 to attend a two-week talent development programme. This tailored cultural residency and business skills training will give the emerging designers the professional support that is often difficult to access, provided by some of the UK’s leading fashion and creative experts.

The designers spent one week immersed in the creative community of Somerset House Studios where they were supported by a range of studio artists whose skills and expertise range from ethical fashion and sustainability to tech. Another week was spent with experts from London College of Fashion, UAL reviewing their business and brand development goals. During both residencies, the designers explored, tested and developed a series of collaborations and creative projects that formed part of their installations, and were given important insights into all aspects of business from branding and communications to sales. 

In recognition of the participants' creativity and innovation, an award will be presented to one designer during London Fashion Week February 2019. The winner will be decided by a panel of cultural and commercial fashion experts chaired by Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Chief Critic Vogue.com.

Being part of IFS can be the springboard to international recognition. Eight designers who have previously shown at IFS have been nominated for the LVMH prize, 32 nominated for the Woolmark prize and four have won Hyères awards, these include Bodice and the-sirius. 15 have shown on schedule at LFW such as Per Götesson, Rejina Pyo and Xiao Li, five were awarded NEWGEN sponsorship and five have participated in LONDON show ROOMS in Paris.

The British Fashion council Introduces London Fashion Week: Insiders

The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to introduce a brand new event format for London Fashion Week Festival; London Fashion Week: Insiders which will provide unrivalled consumer access to London Fashion Week for the first time in its history.

The London Fashion Week: Insiders jam-packed schedule will take place over two days during LFW on the 16th and 17th of February at The Store X, 180 Strand. There will be see-now, buy-now catwalk shows, industry talks, retail space and consumer experiences.

The BFC are delighted to be working with BBC Earth and ‘No Frills’ sustainable fashion designer Amy Powney of Mother of Pearl in a partnership to discuss Positive Fashion. In the first event of its kind, this collaboration brings together the global reach of the BBC, the pioneering sustainability strategy of Mother of Pearl and the fashion influence of the BFC to host a talk series on Saturday the 16th of February.

The focus of the talks will be centred on the impact the fashion industry has on the planet while highlighting the positive tangible opportunity for sustainable fashion choices and mindful consumer behaviour. The event will be filmed by BBC Earth and content will be published across digital and social platforms ensuring global consumer reach across the BBC and BFC communities. Speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The two-day runway preview will see SS19 collections on Sunday from Fyodor Golan who will present their Lost & Found collection which mixes sporty, surfer details with soft silks and embroidery while also delving into the past with influences from SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog used to create your favourite childhood pyjamas contemporarily reimagined.  OSMAN refines his signature cuts and silhouettes with new colours and textures, playing with exuberant layers of ruffles and draping of fabrics on the body, as always, he will showcase cuts that flatter the female form and make a woman feel powerful. A further two designer catwalks for Saturday will be announced in the coming weeks. The talks schedule for Sunday will be led by fashion industry insiders and full schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

Designer of the moment, British Emerging Talent Womenswear Winner 2018 and winner of the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design 2018, Richard Quinn has thoughtfully designed this season’s limited edition tote bag. Quinn won the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in February 2018 for his community credentials, opening his print studio to fellow designers and students and his incredible design talent. This exclusive merchandise will only be available from the event and will be given to each guest on arrival.

There are two ticket types available, Insider and Front Row. The Insider grants the ticket holder event access – shopping and experiential activity, a seat at a London Fashion Week: Insiders catwalk show and a fashion industry insider talk, access to the Insiders' lounge, a limited-edition Richard Quinn tote bag and a glass of champagne.

The Front Row grants the ticket holder event access – shopping and experiential activity, a front row seat at a London Fashion Week: Insiders catwalk show, access to a private VIP London Fashion Week lounge, priority seating at a fashion industry insider talk, complimentary champagne, soft drinks and snacks during your stay and a VIP version of the limited-edition Richard Quinn tote bag filled with lifestyle, fashion and beauty products.

Ticket: Insider (£135) and Front Row (£245).

Tickets are available to purchase here.

LFW: Insiders opens its doors on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th of February 2019 at The Store X, 180 Strand, London, WC2R 1EA.

With thanks to our Official Sponsors The May Fair Hotel and TONI&GUY and Official Suppliers Bags of Ethics, Code 8, evian, DHL, Getty Images, Global Blue, Larabar, Lavazza and The Gel Bottle.