June 5, 2012
London Announces Fashion Forward Menswear Winners
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 5 MIN.
LONDON, England - The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced four menswear designers - Christopher Shannon, E. Tautz, J.W. Anderson, and James Long - who have been awarded Fashion Forward sponsorship to show at the inaugural London Collections: Men in June.
"Winning Fashion Forward gives me a very powerful platform to be able to show as part of London Menswear fashion," said J.W. Anderson. " The award is important for taking my brand to another level."
This is the first time Fashion Forward sponsorship will be dedicated to a group of menswear designers.
The three new winners will join current recipient James Long, who was the first menswear designer to receive sponsorship last season.
"With the upcoming launch of the inaugural London Collections: Men, we felt the time was right to increase showcasing and business support to this incredibly talented group of young menswear designers, ensuring we support them through the next stage of their businesses," said Caroline Rush, CEO of British Fashion Council.
"We're delighted to be awarding Fashion Forward sponsorship to four of London's menswear designers to show this June."
Fashion Forward winners receive access to business support provided by the BFC as well as a cash prize to assist in showing their spring/summer 2013 collections.??
"It's very rewarding to be one of the first menswear designers to receive the Fashion Forward Award, it shows how far Menswear in the city has come," said winner Christopher Shannon.
"There is now an incredible network of support which means designers can finally turn collections and ideas into viable businesses, I hope it all continues to grow and develop."
Fashion Forward, supported by the Mayor of London, was established 6 years ago to provide funding to talented emerging British designer businesses for showcasing support and to develop their businesses in London.
"This is an important prize, and the previous winners list reads like a roll call of London's brightest fashion talent, said Patrick Grant, Creative Director for E. Tautz.
"Menswear is tough and the competition have bags of cash so support like this makes a big difference. It means a better collection and a better show, and that is all we are trying to achieve."
To be eligible, designers will either have progressed through NEWGEN or NEWGEN MEN, or be at a similar stage in their business.
Fashion Forward is a key BFC initiative and has been instrumental in developing and sustaining the growth of emerging design talent.
"I'm very excited to receive the first Menswear Fashion Forward Award," said James Long.
"It's great to take the brand to the next level and be part of the on going support from the British Fashion Council."
For more information, biographies and exclusive interviews with the designers visit: www.britishfashioncouncil.com/fashionforward
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A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
