Wales Bonner, Rejina Pyo shortlisted for BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2019

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Feb 15, 2019

Emerging designers including Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, Grace Wales Bonner and Rejina Pyo are among those that have been shortlisted for the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2019.

A.W.A.K.E Mode,  Alighieri, David Koma and Neous complete the shortlist.

Established in 2008, the fund has been previously awarded to some of London Fashion Week’s most exciting names including Christopher Kane, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou and Molly Goddard.

Dedicated to helping emerging fashion brands accelerate their growth, the fund provides 12 months of mentoring and a cash prize of £200,000. All shortlisted designers receive also a full mentoring programme through the BFC’s Business Support team, with access to funders and other industry experts.

Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue and chair of the Fund Committee, said the shortlisted designers showed “immense talent and business acumen”.

Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, added: “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 with the potential to become the next global fashion house and I am delighted that the Fund is able to do so for the 11th consecutive year.”

The candidates will be interviewed by a judging committee composed of Caroline Rush, Edward Enninful, Erdem Moralioglu, Gemma Metheringham, Maria Hatzistefanis, Rod Manley, Sarah Mower, Paul Price of Topshop and Xia Ding of JD.com.

The winner of the 2019 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund will be announced on 1 May.