BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2020 unveils shortlist

Alighieri, Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY, David Koma, Halpern, Metier and Rejina Pyo have all been named on the shortlist for the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2020.

Established in 2008, The Fund aims to discover new emerging talent and to accelerate business growth to create the brands of the future. The winner receives a cash prize of £200,000 and benefits from a full mentoring programme for one year. Supporters of the fun include British Vogue, Burberry, Label/MIX, Rodial and Paul Smith.

This year’s judging committee is chaired by Edward Enninful OBE, Editor in Chief of British Vogue. The committee comprises of experts from across the fashion industry: Caroline Rush CBE, British Fashion Council; Fran Summers, Model; Gemma Metheringham, Label/Mix; Lauren Indvik, Financial Times; Maria Hatzistefanis, Rodial; Natalie Kingham,Matchesfashion.com; Paul Smith CBE, Paul Smith; Rod Manley, Burberry and Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent & Vogue Runway.

Enninful said: “The BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund continues to be a vital initiative within the UK fashion industry in discovering and supporting emerging talent. The shortlisted designers have all demonstrated immense skill and business acumen to date.”

Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, added: “Congratulations to all the shortlisted designers! It is a very exciting line-up which shows the breadth of talent we have here in the UK. Now more than ever, it is essential for our industry to help and mentor new talent who have the potential to become the next global fashion house and I am delighted that the Fund is able to do so for the 12th consecutive year.”

The shortlisted designers will be interviewed by the Fund Judging Committee this coming March with the winner announced in May.

Past winners of the fund include Wales Bonner, Christopher Kane, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Molly Goddard, Mother of Pearl, Nicholas Kirkwood, palmer//harding, Peter Pilotto and Sophia Webster.

Rosh Mahtani of Alighieri, which is shortlisted for the fund, will receive the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design on the final day if London Fashion Week. The prize will be presented by The Princess Royal.