BFC announces NewGen SS16 winners

The British Fashion Council has named nine NewGen recipients who will be showcasing their collections during London Fashion Week in September.

Designers receiving catwalk sponsorship are: 1205, Ashley Williams and Ryan Lo, while presentation sponsorship has been given to Claire Barrow, Danielle Romeril, Faustine Steinmetz and Molly Goddard, and Marta Jakubowski and Sadie Williams have been awarded exhibition sponsorship.

Once again the designers will be given a dedicated pop-up showroom for four hours after their show or presentation, offering buyers the opportunity to make sales appointments, as well as the financial support to showcasing at LFW.

Sarah Mower MBE, BFC ambassador for emerging talent, and chair of the NewGen selection said: “The NewGen initiative has an unrivalled reputation as the scheme which has seen countless designers through to London Fashion Week and success in selling globally. The panel and I are always stunned to be able to meet designers and discover what they have to say at an early stage, and, with our teamwork, and Topshop's sponsorship, to help fast-track their business savvy as well as their talent for design.

“Everyone who wants a window on the future shouldn't be missing what our NewGen cohort has to say this season - they are as individualistic as London designers are, but also characterised by their collective pure enjoyment of clothes, innovation, artistry and a playful sense of fun.”

However, Mower did add that there was a “dearth of accessory designers” applying to NewGen, and that she hoped that more would apply next season.