Fashion-lovers and models at Talent Management were excited to hear that the British Fashion Council (BFC) has just announced 13 of London’s brightest emerging fashion design talents, all of whom have been selected to receive the BFC NEWGEN sponsorship, which will see them show at London Fashion Week in September 2012.

Recipients for the sponsorship, which is considered the world’s most globally recognised fashion design talent identification scheme, are…

Catwalk sponsorship: Michael van der Ham; J.W. Anderson; Simone Rocha

Presentation sponsorship: Christopher Raeburn; J.JS Lee; Lucas Nascimento; Marques Almeida; Nasir Mazhar; Sister by Sibling

Exhibition sponsorship: Palmer//Harding; Huishan Zhang; Lim Cooper; Sophia Webster

All of the designers will feature in the NEWGEN space of the Exhibition at London Fashion Week.

NEWGEN showcases the best emerging British based fashion talent and is central to the British Fashion Council’s talent identification, designer development and showcasing programme.

Since its inception in 1993, its alumni include Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon, Jonathan Saunders and Christopher Kane to name a few.
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, commented: “We are delighted to support this exceptionally talented group of designers and would like to thank Topshop for their support as a sponsor that is now synonymous with NEWGEN. The calibre of design and talent in the UK fashion industry is outstanding and continues to grow from strength to strength”.

Sarah Mower MBE, BFC’s Ambassador for Emerging Talent, said: “It never ceases to amaze me how fast NEWGEN winners learn – and how far they can go in such a short time. That accelerated learning process has much to do with designers realising how much is expected of them when they enter NEWGEN at the bottom rung and about a unique collaborative culture which has grown up between young talents and British industry experts over years. I am especially grateful to Sir Philip Green, Mary Homer and the team at Topshop, who support a world-class platform for NEWGEN, and to the incredible fashion-industry insiders who volunteer such multi-dimensional advice on the NEWGEN committee.”

Mary Homer, Managing Director of Topshop, added: “NEWGEN lies at the heart of London Fashion Week and over the last ten years has supported and developed some of fashion’s most successful and greatest talents. I’m delighted that Topshop will continue to be involved in the sponsorship over the next ten years, and I wish this season’s winners the best of luck.”

NEWGEN offers the catwalk designers financial support towards their show costs and the opportunity to use the BFC Catwalk Show Space during LFW. Others receive a sponsored presentation or exhibition space to showcase their collections, offering these emerging UK-based designers an important introduction to influential press and buyers from around the world. NEWGEN also provides business and mentoring support through the BFC in partnership with Shoosmiths, Baker Tilley and Lloyds TSB.

Talent Management thinks this dedication to the support and growth of emerging talent is great and can’t wait to see what the winners will show this September.