Sainsbury’s Tu partners with Graduate Fashion Week

Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is to give one fashion student a 12-month placement at its clothing arm Tu as part of the retailer’s first partnership with Graduate Fashion Week.

The winner will design a womenswear collection for the Tu brand, which will hit stores for spring/summer 2017. In addition, to designing their own collection, the winner will also have “unprecedented access” to London Fashion Week designer Holly Fulton, through a bespoke mentorship programme, which includes visiting her design studio for a mentoring session and a creative meeting to discuss the collection for Tu.

There will also be mentoring from Sainsbury’s in-house team, offering full insight into the business of fashion from buying through to design, to showcase to the winner how to launch their first collection.

Sainsbury’s director of non-food trading, James Brown said: "We are delighted to work with Graduate Fashion Week and Holly Fulton through our mentorship programme which combines two of our passions, fashion and fostering emerging talent.

“Good luck to all graduates participating at Graduate Fashion Week this year, we look forward to viewing your collections and supporting your career in the fashion industry.”

Sainsbury’s to offer 12-month placement in partnership with Graduate Fashion Week.

Fulton added: “I am excited to be involved with Sainsbury's Graduate Fashion Week mentorship scheme; when I started out I was lucky enough to be given lots of support from industry and engage with some key mentors who still guide me today.

“It’s great to be given the opportunity to be involved with a new talent and to be hopefully help guide them through their first foray into industry and I look forward to working closely with the winner.”

Sainsbury’s are the latest retailer to partner with Graduate Fashion Week in its 25th anniversary year, earlier this month Marks and Spencer’s announced that they would be hosting live talks and competitions, as well as sponsoring the womenswear award, while Debenhams is sponsoring this year’s menswear award.

Graduate Fashion Week takes place from June 5-8. The winner of the Graduate Fashion Week 25th Anniversary Tu Scholarship will be announced on June 8.

Image: Courtesy of Sainsbury’s Tu