Nicomede Talavera wins CFE support

Emerging London-based menswear designer Nicomede Talavera is the latest recipient of the Centre for Fashion Enterprise’s new Fashion Venture sponsorship scheme.

The designer, a Central Saint Martins graduate follows in the footsteps of Mary Katrantzou, Erdem, Peter Pilotto, Holly Fulton and Thomas Tait as the latest winner of sponsorship and mentoring from the Centre for Fashion Enterprise in London.

Talavera who was previously supported by CFE’s six month Fashion Pioneer programme will now take part in the Fashion Venture scheme, which runs for two years and includes free studio space in its Mare Street studios, one-on-one mentoring in all aspects of the fashion business, legal advice, monetary subsidies, and access to sampling and production machinery.

Commenting on his win, Talavera said: “I am extremely grateful for the belief and support the CFE have shown in my label and work, via the Pioneer programme and now the Venture programme.

“My business has developed rapidly in the last three seasons and is at a stage where to progress and be sustainable, the expertise and support of the CFE and their team will be invaluable. I am really looking forward to the next two years.”

Centre for Fashion Enterprise to support menswear designer Nicomede Talavera

CFE director Wendy Malem added: “Nicomede Talavera inspires us at Centre for Fashion Enterprise, not only due to his fresh directional talent, but also by his curiosity about business. A talented designer who is excited by the fusion between business and design must surely succeed. The team are looking to add value to that talent.”

Talavera who founded his eponymous label in 2013 has received the support of Fashion East, the pioneering non-profit initiative, and took part in the autumn/winter 2014 fashion east presentations before moving over to the MAN scheme, the joint venture between Fashion East and Topman for spring/summer 2015 and autumn/winter 2015.

Currently the Nicomede Talavera label is stocked worldwide in stores including Dover Street Market, lN-CC, Joyce in Hong Kong, Opening Ceremony in New York, Los Angeles and Japan, and Space Mue in Korea.

Other designers currently participating in the Fashion Venture programme include Craig Green, Phoebe English, Teatum Jones, Rejina Pyo and Fyodor Golan.

Images: Nicomede Talavera AW15