British Fashion Council Announce Designer Fashion Fund Recipients

In 2017 the Fund adjusted its format with a focus on bringing key expertise into designer businesses to assist with development and growth. The £200,000 Fund was opened up to be shared between up to three recipients, enabling the fund to benefit multiple designers at a pivotal stage in the growth of their brand’s development. The winners still receive a full mentoring programme through the BFC’s Business Support team, including access to funders and industry experts. 

“I am delighted that Amy and Levi and Matthew will be beneficiaries of this year’s award. Mother of Pearl and palmer//harding are very different in terms of the clothes they offer and the way they operate but both convinced us that we were backing brands with strong potential who understood how they could grow and who had and exciting vision.”

Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council, added,

“I’m so pleased to congratulate Mother of Pearl and palmer//harding as this year’s recipients. Amy, Levi and Matthew impressed the panel with the clear vision they had for the future of their businesses, and showed a real understanding of how this money could be used to benefit and futureproof the growth of their brands. Both brands are built on strong and dynamic creative visions, and it’s an exciting time to see them expand commercially to compliment this.” 

Huishan Zhang, Mother of Pearl, Osman, palmer//harding, Shrimps, Sophie Hulme and Toogood were shortlisted for the 2017 prize and were invited to the Breather.com Maiden Lane Space in February to present their collections and business plan to the panel. Chaired by Alexandra Shulman OBE, Editor of British Vogue, the judging committee is made up of representatives from businesses who support the Fund and industry experts: Caroline Rush CBE, British Fashion Council; Gemma Metheringham, LABEL; Helen David, Harrods; Ian Lewis, Harrys of London Limited; Joan Burstein CBE; Lisa Armstrong, The Daily Telegraph; Mary Homer, Topshop; Samantha Cameron, British Fashion Council Ambassador; Sarah Manley, Burberry and Susanne Tide- Frater, Farfetch. 

The BFC would like to thank British Vogue, Burberry, Harrods, LABEL, Paul Smith and Topshop for their support of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.  

Previous winners of the Fund include Christopher Kane, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Nicholas Kirkwood, Peter Pilotto and Sophia Webster.  

The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is part of the BFC’s business support initiatives aimed at supporting British designers and businesses from school level to emerging talent and future fashion start-ups through to new establishment and global brands.