Nicholas Kirkwood named Fashion Fund winner

Footwear designer Nicholas Kirkwood has won the 2013 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, an initiative that was established four years ago to further enhance the reputation of London’s rising stars and assist in the development

of their businesses.

The designer was chosen from a shortlist of five designers, which also included London Fashion Week stars Roksanda Ilincic, Mary Katrantzou, Peter Pilotto and Emilia Wickstead, by a panel of representatives of Fund sponsors that includes Burberry, Clothing at Tesco, Debenhams, Harrods and Vogue.

As the winner, Kirkwood will receive a cash prize of 200,000 pounds as well as bespoke mentoring programme tailored specifically to assist the designer in achieving his business goals for the next 18 months, with the aim of helping him make the transition from a developing creative business into a global fashion brand.

The panel said that the choice to award to the footwear designer was based on his and business partner Christopher Suarez’s “extremely professional 3 year plan and presentation at interview”. They also added that he had demonstrated “exceptional skill in building a modern, individual and recognisable accessories line” and was very clear on his business growth strategy and the key challenges he would like to address with the support of the Fund and its advisors.

Caroline Rush, Chief Executive British Fashion Council, said: “The calibre of applications in the shortlist were second to none, all of the designers proved that they at a very crucial stage in their business when the fund could deliver a real opportunity to accelerate growth.

“However Nicholas’ application provided a clear and compelling case for how both funding and targeted mentoring would be used to assist him in taking the next steps in developing a global brand.”

The footwear designer studied at Central Saint Martins and Cordwainers and went on to launch his label in spring 2005, and since then has become known for his architectural designed shoes that have gained him many celebrity fans including Sarah Jessica Parker, Daphne Guinness and Beyoncé. His stockist list includes 10 Corso Como, Milan Barneys, New York; and Lane Crawford, Hong Kong and he has recently opened two flagship stores in London and New York.

Previous winners of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund are Erdem, Christopher Kane, and Jonathan Saunders.