Selfridges' Bright Young Things returns

Following on from the success of the inaugural Bright Young Things initiative last year, Selfridges has announced that 15 UK-based emerging design talents from the worlds of fashion, art and design, and food will take part this year.

The project created to nurture up-and-coming talent, will showcase the designers in the stores Oxford Street and Duke Street windows from today until the end of February. Each designer will be given their own window to take over, with support from Selfridges’ window stylists, with a brief solely to communicate the ‘vision and the essence’ of their work. In addition, the 15 designers and artists will sell their products from three temporary shops located in the Oxford Street flagship store, as well as online at Selfridges.com, providing major exposition of their work.

This year’s Bright Young Things are: womenswear designers Sorcha O’Raghallaigh, Adam Andrascik, Maarten van Horst and Alice Lee; menswear designers Shaun Samson, Astrid Anderson, William Richard Green, and Alex Mattson; and accessories designers Oliver Ruuger and T.lipop. They join names from the art and design field: Becky Sloan, Tinker & Tailor, Archie McLeish, Nuha Razik; and coffee roaster Jack Coleman completes the line-up.
 
Sarah McCullough, Selfridges’ Windows and Concepts Manager, comments: “Last year’s Bright Young Things windows scheme was so incredibly vibrant and original – particularly when viewed within the context of a luxury department store – that the decision to launch the project for a second year was an easy one. My team and I aim to create dynamic concepts all year round, but working with these young talents is really inspiring. Their vision, and the passion with which they execute their installations, is hugely exciting. We’re proud to be able to provide this platform for UK creativity.”
 
In addition to those designers selected by the Selfridges team, one of the Duke Street store windows will showcase the work of seven designers from the University of the Arts London’s prestigious Future Map programme. The Future Map graduates featured in the window are: Alex Kwan, Chieh Ting Huang, Joanna Mires, Jy Yeon Suh, Karin Soderquist, Matthew Nicholson and Pip Jolley.
 
Last year the Bright Young Things showcased 20 emerging creatives including Alex Noble, Kirsty Ward and Simone Rocha.
 
Image: Selfridges - Shaun Samson, Maarten van der Horst, Alex Mattson, Sorcha O’Raghallaigh