British Fashion Council unveils recipients of NEWGEN prize

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the 16 recipients of its NewGen prize 2026/27, including three new designers who are joining existing NewGen talent this year.

The prize, which was established in 1993, identifies and supports exceptional emerging fashion talent, helping designers build globally recognised and commercially resilient businesses.

Recipients are selected for their creativity, distinctive aesthetic, and innovative approach to design across ready-to-wear and accessories categories, according to the BFC.

This year, the prize has been redefined as part of the BFC's new strategy, ‘BFC 2030: Access, Creativity, Growth’, and, in partnership with Pull&Bear, it will focus on promoting more sustained, long-term support for designer talent, including funding, infrastructure, mentorship and industry access.

The new strategy was unveiled earlier this year and repositions the organisation from a promoter of British fashion to a strategic business accelerator for the entire industry.

This year's recipients of the NewGen prize are: A Letter, Charlie Constantinou, E.W.Usie, Francesca Lake, Gui Rosa, Johanna Parv, Caroline Vitto, Liza Keane, Lieder, Octi, Oscar Ouyang, Pauline Dujancourt, Petra Fagerström, Steve O Smith, The Ouze, and Yaku.

The recipients include both established names that have shown on the fashion week calendar - Constantinou, Parv and Yaku - and newcomers to the BFC NewGen circle: Lake, Fagerström and Rosa.

Laura Weir, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, commented: "BFC NewGen has long been a launchpad for some of the most internationally recognised names in British fashion, supporting emerging designers as they build creatively ambitious and commercially viable businesses."

She added: "The BFC’s talent support programmes have been refined to ensure support is clear and impact is demonstrable. BFC NewGen has evolved to provide stronger designer support and deepened investment at a pivotal stage of growth. We are proud to support this year’s cohort and look forward to seeing their collections presented during London Fashion Week in the BFC NewGen showspace this September."

Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Chief Critic at Vogue Runway, added: "Congratulations to the exciting designers we're welcoming to the NewGen scheme. Each of them has the calibre of creative individuality, energy, and entrepreneurialism it takes to make London Fashion Week an exhilarating arena for encountering surprising ideas and great clothes."