BFC names Designer Menswear Fund 2015 winner

British label E.Tautz, under the creative direction of Patrick Grant, was announced as the winner of the second annual British Fashion Council/GQ Designer Menswear Fund prize.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Christopher Shannon, the British brand that was founded in 1867 and re-branded in 2009, will receive 150,000 pounds to help provide the “necessary infrastructure to take them to the next stage of their business”, as well as a year-long mentoring scheme worth around 50,000 pounds.

Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, said: “It is with great joy that we present the second BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund Award to E. Tautz. We are delighted to be able to support a label with such a strong identity, precise business plan and noteworthy presence at London Collections Men. I strongly believe that the prize will successfully help propelling E. Tautz onto the international fashion scene.”

Commenting on his win, Grant said: "It's surreal, I didn't expect this at all. I stood here twice for the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund and once last year, so I know how bad it feels to miss out.

“But I want to say congratulations to all the other nominees. I am so proud to follow in Chris Shannon's footsteps."

E.Tautz wins the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund

Selected by a panel of judges including Rush, Vertu CEO Max Pogliani and GQ Editor Dylan Jones, the Savile Row-trained tailor beat off stiff competition from the four other homegrown designers - Astrid Andersen, Christopher Raeburn, Matthew Miller and Sibling, made up of designers Sid Bryan, Joe Bates and Cozette McCreery.

Each shortlisted designer has been participating in a mentoring programme with fashion industry experts, including Fund committee member Ben Banks, CEO of Four Marketing, Karen Mengers, merchandising director of Alexander McQueen and Sean O’Neill, head of global digital trading at AllSaints, who provided guidance on strategic planning, branding, leadership, commercial retail, e-tail and wholesale and digital innovation.

In addition, the fund sponsor Vertu, also gave each designer access to its team of business leaders in technology, global distribution, legal and finance.

Massimiliano Pogliani, chief executive of Vertu added: “The opportunity to mentor such a talented group of young British designers is both inspiring and a privilege and the Vertu team of mentors was impressed with the creativity and commercial ambition demonstrated by all of the designers.

“Patrick, however, stood out not only for his immense talent, but for his appetite to build the business and openness to new commercial approaches. We now look forward to mentoring E. Tautz further as it extends the business into new markets.”

The British Fashion Council/GQ Designer Menswear Fund was established in September 2013, following the success of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. The inaugural prize was given to menswear designer Christopher Shannon in 2014.

Image: Dylan Jones, Massimiliano Pogliani, Patrick Grant and Caroline Rush taken by Darren Gerrish/BFC