International Fashion Showcase returning for 2019

The International Fashion Showcase, established as a platform for emerging designers to exhibit their work during London Fashion Week, has confirmed that it will return in 2019 and will feature 16 emerging designers from across the globe.

The biennial fashion presentation, hosted in partnership between the British Council, British Fashion Council, London College of Fashion, UAL and Somerset House, will showcase up-and-coming fashion talent from Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, India, Georgia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Vietnam.

Each designer will showcase their collections as part of a free exhibition that will allow both industry professionals and the public to discover emerging fashion talent during London Fashion Week in February 2019.

Key designers set to take part includes Duran Lantink, from the Netherlands, whose ‘vagina’ trousers drew global attention in Janelle Monae’s PYNK video, as well as self-taught Georgian designer Irakli Rusadze of Situationist and Rwandan Cedric Mizero for his bold ‘fashion for all’ designs.

16 emerging designers to take part in 2019 International Fashion Showcase

For the first time, each designer will also be supported through a bespoke online programme, developed by London College of Fashion, UAL, which will cover all aspects of business development from branding to sales and production to sustainability. They will also travel to London this August to attend a two week talent development programme, ahead of the February 2019 exhibition.

The aim of the tailored cultural residency and business skills training is to give the emerging designers the professional support that is often difficult to access, provided by some of the UK’s leading fashion and creative experts, said organisers in a press release.

International Fashion Showcase adds bespoke training programme for emerging designers

The designers will spend one week at Somerset House Studios where they will be supported by a range of studio artists whose skills and expertise range from ethical fashion and sustainability to tech. Another week will be spent with experts from London College of Fashion, UAL reviewing their business and brand development goals. During both residencies, the designers will explore, test and develop a series of collaborations and creative projects that will form part of their installations in February’s exhibition, and be given important insights into all aspects of business from branding and communications to sales.

The International Fashion Showcase has been gaining a reputation as a springboard to international recognition, with 8 designers who have previously shown have gone on to be nominated for the LVMH prize, 32 have been nominated for the Woolmark prize and 4 have won the Hyères awards, these include Bodice and the- sirius. In addition, 15 have gone on to show on schedule at London Fashion Week including Per Götesson, Rejina Pyo and Xiao Li, while 5 were awarded NewGen sponsorship.

International Fashion Showcase will take place from February 11-25, 2019 at Somerset House.

Images: courtesy of International Fashion Showcase