Wales Bonner wins the 2023 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund

Grace Wales Bonner has been named as the winner of the 2023 BFC/GQ Designer Fund, which includes a £100,000 cash prize along with a 12-month bespoke high-level business mentoring programme, pro-bono legal services from law firm Sheridans.

A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Grace Wales Bonner is one of the brightest lights in British menswear design having won numerous awards since leaving  the design school. She has subsequently expanded her label, Wales Bonner, into womenswear and is stocked in some of the world's pre-eminent fashion retailers, including Matchesfashion.com, Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, Mr. Porter, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks 5th Avenue, Nordstrom, Dover Street Market International and Boon the Shop.

She landed the prize from a shortlist this year that included AGR, Bianca Saunders, Bleue Burnham and paria /FARZAN EH. All shortlisted designers will have the opportunity to participate in a mentoring programme through the BFC's Designer Initiatives team, with access to industry and business experts, and pro-bono legal services delivered by Sheridans.

"I am very grateful to have been awarded the BFC/GO Designer Fashion Fund, it is a great affirmation for myself and my team as we continue on our journey. Receiving this kind of support is very meaningful to us as an independent brand. As ever, I would like to soy a special thank you to all of our supporters and collaborators," Wales Bonner said.

British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush said: "We are delighted to announce the brilliant Grace as this year's winner of the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund. Her brand stands out for having created a space for a cultural conversation that inspires future generations. Her intellectual approach to design has resulted in multiple collaborations across the creative space, exploring music with Kendrick Lamar, art with Lubaina Himid, and sportswear with Adidas, demonstrating the brand's clear ability to resonate with consumers and achieve commercial success."

Adam Baidawi, Head of Editorial Content, British GO & Deputy Global Editorial Director, GQ added: "It is an honour to present this year's BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund to Grace Wales Bonner, an electrifying talent with a razor-sharp vision. Grace is rearchitecting the very notion of what a luxury fashion house is - and who luxury is for. She is the total embodiment of modem creativity: ambitious, collaborative, and global. We honoured Grace at GO's Global Creativity Awards earlier this year, and we're proud to once again recognise, support and celebrate what she and her team are building."

Image: Alamy