BFC names nine London labels for 2015 Fashion Trust Recipients

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has named nine London-based designer labels as the newest recipients of its Fashion Trust scheme, which offer financial support and mentoring from business specialists. Grants totalling 300,000 pounds will be divided between the nine fashion brands: David Koma, Emilia Wickstead, Holly Fulton, Marios Schwab, Mother of Pearl, Palmer Harding, Prism, Sibling and Sophia Webster.

BFC reveals 2015 Fashion Trust Recipients

"The generous support from the BFC Fashion Trust will see important financial awards go to nine of the UK’s talented designers," commented Caroline Rush, chief executive officer of the BFC. "Their fashion labels have shown exciting growth and both individually and collectively their businesses reinforce the UK’s reputation for creative strength."

The BFC also revealed the launch of the Graduate Traineeship Programme, which was in pilot over the past year and is funded by donations from the Fashion Trust members. The new programme will offer Bachelor and Master design graduates the opportunity to apply for a twelve month paid placement with one of London Fashion Week’s fashion designers. The structured twelve month programme ensures graduates are able to develop skills and are exposed to different elements of a design team. The programme was designed to ensure graduates are able to develop skills to progress their business and explore different aspects of a design team.

The traineeship programme is divided into three stages, with the first phase includes assisting and preparing, the second phase focused on the process of planning a collection and the third phase based on the conception stages of a collection. Two students from the Royal College of Art were placed within the businesses of Roksanda and Erdem in the first year.

"British fashion is recognised globally for its energy and inventiveness which is why we need to support the industry at grass roots," added Tania Fares and Kim Hersov, co-chairs BFC Fashion Trust. "The Fashion Trust will continue to support talented designer labels so that the UK can continue to build the brands of the future." The Fashion Trust was first founded in early 2011 to offer selected designers support through financial aid and mentoring, with last's year recipients including Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders and House of Holland.