The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced that eight of London's most exciting emerging menswear fashion design talents will receive sponsorship from its designer support initiative NEWGEN MEN sponsored by TOPMAN. All recipients will receive business support and the opportunity to use the official BFC venue to host either a catwalk show, presentation or an installation during London Fashion Week's (LFW) Menswear Day, on Wednesday 22nd February.
The recipients of NEWGEN MEN, sponsored by TOPMAN, Autumn/Winter 2012 are:
Catwalk sponsorship (shows will take place in the BFC Show Space): Christopher Shannon and J.W. Anderson
Salon Show Presentation sponsorship: Lou Dalton, Martine Rose and Matthew Miller
Installation sponsorship (Installations will take place in the East Wing, Somerset House): Bunney, Christopher Raeburn and SIBLING
NEWGEN MEN began in September 2009, building on TOPMAN and Fashion East's successful MAN initiative. It has since become instrumental in raising the profile of emerging British designers using the dedicated Menswear Day at London Fashion Week as a showcasing platform. As well as sponsorship, the initiative offers its recipients tailored business and mentoring support, with a view to increasing the success of their business commercially and building relationships with key press and buyers. NEWGEN MEN continues to promote the best of British menswear talent for the fifth consecutive season, with ongoing dedicated support from TOPMAN.
Tim Blanks, Contributing Editor, Style and a member of the British Fashion Council's Menswear Committee, said “The breadth of menswear in London has been inspiring, but now it's time to make note of the depth - behind all the already familiar names, there are platoons of newbies. That's more than evolution - it's inescapable maturity. I say, watch out, world!”
Gordon Richardson, Design Director, TOPMAN, who was also on the selection panel, adds “This season we say a fond farewell to the brilliant James Long as he flies the NEWGEN MEN nest to become the first Fashion Forward menswear recipient and we welcome Martine Rose and Matthew Miller - both graduates of MAN - as well as Bunney, a very exciting young jewellery designer into the NEWGEN mix.
We see J.W. Anderson and Christopher Shannon showing again on the catwalk - both now having achieved their fifth season with a solo show and both very much established and commercially successful in their own right and I think testament to the importance and success of the MEN's initiative during London Fashion Week - a necessary platform to showcase our brilliant home-grown menswear design talent.”
Martine Rose receives NEWGEN MEN sponsorship for the first time and will host a salon show presentation for February 2012 after three seasons of MAN support. Martine has had hugely successful collaborations with Wallpaper Magazine, Timberland and CAT boots and was one of the selected designers taking part in Selfridges, 'Bright Young Things' project, which saw designers produce a window display for the store and design exclusive product and one off pieces.
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