BFC announces fashion MA scholarship recipients

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has revealed the four students who will receive scholarships to study fashion MAs. The scholarships are awarded by the BFC Education Foundation, a registered charity that offers scholarships to talented young people to study BAs and MAs.

The four recipients of the 2016 BFC Education Foundation MA Scholarship are promising students who have “already excelled in their BA degrees”. They are:

• Cassandra Verity Green from Central Saint Martins (CSM) will study the MA Fashion Womenswear (Accessories) course at Royal College of Art (RCA)
• Cavan McPherson from CSM will study the MA Fashion Womenswear (Knitwear) course at RCA
• Geraint Brian Lewis from University of South Wales will study the Menswear MA course at University of Westminster
• Yasemin Cakli from University of Westminster will study the Menswear MA course at University of Westminster

This year’s judging panel consisted of Emma Farrow, head of design, Finery; Nabil Nayal, designer and former scholarship recipient; and Sarah Mower MBE, American Vogue journalist and BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent.

For the first time this year, previous scholarship winner Erdem joined the scheme’s funders which include: Coach, Marks & Spencer, Net-a-Porter and Eiesha Bharti Pasricha. The project was also partly supported by HM Government with Employer Ownership funding through Creative Skillset.

Erdem Moralıoğlu said: “I was lucky enough to win the scholarship whilst studying at the Royal College of Art. Looking back I understand how important that was for me then and what’s important to me now is that others can benefit at a similar stage in their development.”

Sarah Mower MBE, who is co-president of the BFC Education Pillar with Meribeth Parker, said: ‘The British fashion industry is fuelled by the originality and drive of people from every background who emerge from our world-beating fashion education system. As the costs of further education continue to rise, The British Fashion Council Education Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that the doors remain open to excellent students to whom expense is a barrier. We are grateful to every donor who joins with us to guarantee that brilliant young people continue to strengthen the future of our unique industry.”

Applications were open to graduating students from member colleges of the BFC’s Colleges Council.

Formerly known as the British Fashion Awards, The Fashion Awards 2016 will now be an annual fundraiser gala for the BFC Education Foundation and has a new global perspective. The event takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on 5 December.