BFC Fashion Trust partners with HSBC

The British Fashion Council has announced that HSBC, one of the largest banking and financial services organisations, is partnering with its charitable initiative the BFC Fashion Trust to provide international expertise and mentoring to the initiative’s grant recipients.

The BFC Fashion Trust was founded in February 2011 and offers selected designers mentoring and financial support to promote the art and business of fashion. Earlier this year, the initiative awarded grants totalling 450,000 pounds between eleven designers, to mark the largest allocation of grants by the trust to date.

The recipients for 2017 are: Edeline Lee, Eudon Choi, Fyodor Golan, Georgia Hardinge, Huishan Zhang, Isa Arfen, Marques’Almeida, Osman, Rejina Pyo, Sharon Wauchob and Teatum Jones.

As part of the partnership, HSBC’s Daniel Howlett, head of large corporates, UK, and Regional head of client coverage, Europe will join the Fashion Trust advisory board, alongside co-chairs Tania Fares and Sian Westerman, who developed the philanthropic programme in association with the British Fashion Council and the BFC Fashion Trust Advisory Committee.

British Fashion Council announces partnership between the BFC Fashion Trust and HSBC

Tania Fares and Sian Westerman, said: “We are absolutely thrilled about this new partnership with HSBC. Being one of the world’s largest financial services organisations, their involvement is a great opportunity for the designers supported by the BFC Fashion Trust as it will provide them with the unique platform to be mentored by a global financial leader.

“We are convinced that HSBC’s involvement will be fantastic for the designers and their businesses and are incredibly proud to be working with them.”

Howlett, added: “The British fashion industry is envied around the world for its creativity, innovation and iconic longevity. We’re proud to be an official partner to the BFC Fashion Trust and to support UK businesses operating in a truly international industry.

“Our reach covers 90 percent of the world’s trade flow putting us in a unique position to provide advice and expertise for designers and retailers as they look for growth opportunities and continue to set global trends.”

The BFC Fashion Trust is part of a group of the British Fashion Council’s business support initiatives and charities aimed at supporting British designers and businesses from school level to emerging talent, and future fashion start-ups through to new establishment and global brands.

Since 2011 it has awarded more than 1.6 million pounds to 39 designer businesses to help with critical business support such as developing websites, e-commerce platforms and bricks and mortar stores.

Images: Edeline Lee, Isa Arfen SS17 courtesy of the British Fashion Council