British Fashion Council

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British Fashion Council
LondonFashionWeekFeb2010.jpg
London Fashion Week is organised by British Fashion Council
Formation6 January 1983; 38 years ago (1983-01-06)
PurposePromote British fashion in the UK and internationally
HeadquartersSomerset House, Strand
London, WC2
LeaderStephanie Phair
WebsiteBritish Fashion Council
Manish Arora designs at London Fashion Week 2007
Gareth Pugh fashion at London Fashion Week 2006

The British Fashion Council (BFC) is a not-for-profit organisation that harnesses the collective power of the industry to enable sustainable growth and strengthen British fashion in the global fashion economy. Founded in 1983, the BFC organises biannual womenswear and menswear showcases, London Fashion Week (LFW) and London Fashion Week Men's (LFWM) promotes the best of British design to an international audience.

Leadership and activities[]

Based in London, the British Fashion Council (BFC) is currently chaired by Stephanie Phair and since 2009, Caroline Rush CBE has been the organisations Chief Executive. Previous Chairs of the BFC have included Natalie Massenet, Edward Rayne, Nicholas Coleridge CBE, Harold Tillman and Sir Stuart Rose.

The BFC organises the twice-yearly London Fashion Week (LFW) and London Fashion Week Men's (LFWM), showcasing the best of British fashion design to an international audience of press and buyers. Alongside this, each season LONDON show ROOMS takes emerging designers to Paris providing the opportunity to promote overseas. The BFC also organises the annual Fashion Awards, designed to celebrate creativity and innovation within the industry, as well as London Fashion Week Festival (LFWF), an all-inclusive event open to the public.

Another facet of the organisation's activities is to support the next generation of designers by supervising fashion higher education and apprenticeships in the United Kingdom.

In May 2018, BFC appointed former England's football team captain, David Beckham, as its new Ambassadorial President.

2020 saw a number of organisational changes within the BFC including four new appointments to its board of directors on 4 September, who were specifically hired to combat prejudices within the fashion industry.[1] The newly appointed directors; Jamie Gill, June Sarpong, Scott Morrison and Sian Westerman joined the remaining board membership comprising; Stephanie Phair (chairperson), Dylan Jones, Caroline Rush, Laura Strain, and David Pemsel.[2]

The Council created a new committee entitled the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee on the 16th September 2020.[3][4]

In November 2020, the BFC endowed Indian actress, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, with the new title of ambassador for Positive Change[5] the new BFC role has been generated with objectives including the use of fashion as a ‘source for good’, and raising awareness of best practices within the industry including affirming principles that support inclusivity and positive ethics.[6]

Joining other technology companies and fashion brands, Rakuten added its name to the list of BFC Patrons in 2021.[7]

Development of the organisation[]

LFW Carousel

The British Fashion Council (BFC) was established in 1983 as a not-for-profit limited company.[8] Prior to the establishment of a single body to promote the interests of the British fashion industry, there were a number of organisations that existed to promote different interests within British fashion. These included:

Events[]

  • London Fashion Week (LFW)
  • London Fashion Week Men's (LFWM)
  • The Fashion Awards
  • LONDON show ROOMS
  • London Fashion Week Festival

London Fashion Week[]

London Fashion Week is the bi-annual London-based fashion show, held routinely in each February and September.  The trade show typically showcases the work of over 250 international designers and engages a worldwide audience. The fashion week is organised by the BFC alongside other organisations.[13]

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the BFC announced that its 2020 February trade show would be held as a digital-only event, to feature the debut of Princess Anne, who followed in the Queen’s footsteps to present a special award at the event.[14] The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was awarded by Princess Anne to Rosh Mahtani who was accoladed for ‘the craftmanship of her jewellery’.[15]

All event attractions, from the commencement of the week on Friday 14 February 2020, were presented to its global audience online.[16][17]

The event production crews, designers, models and teams were assisted by Westminster Council with rapid Covid testing to ensure the success and safety of the event.[18]

During the February 2020 Fashion Week, the BFC announced its scheme to enable one young designer to show their collection before the virtual audience. The new initiative was made possible in collaboration with MTV.[19]

Following its February virtual showcase event,[20] the BFC announced that it was to merge the Men’s Fashion Week into a new single, “gender-neutral” event.[21][22]

BFC Support Initiatives[]

  • BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund
  • BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund Supported by JD.com, Inc
  • NEWGEN
  • Positive Fashion
  • Coronavirus Foundation Fashion Fund
  • The Black in Fashion Council

Coronavirus Foundation Fashion Fund[]

In response to the global pandemic restrictions, and its move to showcasing fashion virtually, the BFC began to advocate increased support for fashion freelancers experiencing hardship and business disruption - lobbying to the British government to put further policies in place to protect those being negatively affected.[23]

Later in March 2020, the council launched its first coronavirus relief fund, committed to support those in the industry.[24] The crisis relief fund aims to raise £50 million for struggling designers.[25]

In May 2020, the Foundation Fashion Fund announced its first recipients of the £1,000,000 emergency fund. The fund was split between 37 different UK recipients.[26]

The Black in Fashion Council[]

In response to the global reaction to the George Floyd tragedy and the Black Lives Matter protests, the British Fashion Council chief called upon the industry to take further action against racism.[27]

The fashion industry was called to account for its longstanding cultural appropriation and lack of diversity, which led to a partnership of 38 organisations generating the Black in Fashion Council, including the British Fashion Council.[28][29]

As part of its individual response to the BLM movement, the British Fashion Council launched its own project, celebrating Black British culture and fashion. The project includes a variety of programmed events, concluding with an exhibition showcasing the work in the summer of 2022.[30]

BFC Charities[]

  • BFC Education Foundation
  • BFC Fashion Trust
  • The Fashion Arts Foundation
  • The Fashion Arts Commissions
  • The Fashion Arts Film Commissions
  • The Global Fund
  • Britain Creates

Awards, Nominations and Prizes[]

  • Nov 16, 2016 – The British Fashion council awarded Gucci’s New Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, the International Designer Award.[31]
  • Sep 22, 2020 – As part of its £500,000 grant scheme, the British Fashion Council distributed grants to 30 British labels, including Emilia Wickstead, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Rokh and Charles Jeffrey Loverboy.[32]
  • Oct 5, 2020 – The University of Salford and the Central Saint Martins Royal College of Art were announced recipients of the British Fashion Council MA Scholarship.  The recipients of the scholarships were selected from these institutions based on financial need and aptitude.[33]
  • Oct 15, 2020 – The British Fashion Council announced the 2020 Fashion Awards would be held as a virtual event on 3 December. As part of the glamorous ceremony, 20 winners would be celebrated for their resilience during the pandemic, and their determination to see change within the industry.[34]
  • Feb 18, 2021 – The BFC announced the shortlist of designers in line for receiving the prestigious British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.[35][36]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Edmonds, Lizzie (2020-09-17). "British Fashion Council board member sets out diversity designs". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  2. ^ Wightman-Stone, Danielle (2020-09-14). "BFC announces executive board appointments". FashionUnited. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  3. ^ May, Naomi (2020-09-16). "British Fashion Council launches diversity and inclusion committee". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  4. ^ Wightman-Stone, Danielle (2020-09-17). "BFC announces Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee". FashionUnited. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  5. ^ Conti, Samantha (2020-11-16). "Priyanka Chopra Jonas Becomes British Fashion Council Ambassador". WWD. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  6. ^ Desk, iGlobal. "Priyanka Chopra Jonas to use fashion as force for good in new British Fashion Council role". iGlobal News. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  7. ^ "Rakuten Becomes a British Fashion Council Patron". 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  8. ^ Sterlacci Purvin, Francesca; Arbuckle, Joanne (2008). Historical Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Plymouth: Scarecrow Press. pp. 26, 75. ISBN 9780810854543. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  9. ^ Waddell, Gavin (2004). How Fashion Works: Couture, Ready-to-Wear and Mass Production. Oxford: Blackwell Science. pp. 175–7. ISBN 9780632057528. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  10. ^ Sterlacci Purvin, Francesca; Arbuckle, Joanne (2008). Historical Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Plymouth: Scarecrow Press. pp. 26, 75. ISBN 9780810854543. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c O'Byrne, Robert; Worsley-Taylor, Annette (2009). Style City: How London Became a Fashion Capital. London: Frances Lincoln Ltd. ISBN 9780711228955.
  12. ^ "London Fashion Week". Flur Magazine. Feb 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  13. ^ "London Fashion Week". fashionunited.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  14. ^ "Princess Anne makes debut at London Fashion Week - find out why". HELLO!. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  15. ^ "Princess Anne closes London fashion week with royal award". The Guardian. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  16. ^ Wightman-Stone, Danielle (2021-01-13). "London Fashion Week to go ahead with no live audiences". FashionUnited. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  17. ^ Gumuchian, Hanna Rantala, Marie-Louise (2021-02-19). "Digital London Fashion Week kicks off". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  18. ^ "Testing support for London Fashion Week | Westminster City Council". www.westminster.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  19. ^ May, Naomi (2020-02-17). "BFC and MTV launch scheme to nurture fashion designers of the future". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  20. ^ Nast, Condé. "London Fashion Week went digital and, amazingly, it worked". British GQ. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  21. ^ Theodosi, Natalie (2020-04-21). "British Fashion Council Merges Men's, Women's Showcases". WWD. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  22. ^ Jones, Dylan (2020-05-15). "Gender-neutral and digital: a new era for London Fashion Week". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  23. ^ Theodosi, Natalie (2020-03-23). "British Fashion Council Asks U.K. Government to Support Businesses Further". WWD. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  24. ^ Colón, Ana. "British Fashion Council Launches Relief Fund for Businesses Affected by the Coronavirus". Fashionista. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  25. ^ "British Fashion Council Aims to Raise £50 Million For Struggling Designers". The Business of Fashion. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  26. ^ "The BFC Reveals the First Recipients of the BFC Foundation Fund". AnOther. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  27. ^ Bryer, Tania (2020-06-19). "British Fashion Council chief calls on the industry to act on their comments against racism". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  28. ^ Nast, Condé (2020-06-25). "This Is How The Black In Fashion Council Intends To Hold Companies Accountable". British Vogue. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  29. ^ Nast, Condé (2020-08-04). "The Black In Fashion Council Launches With 38 Partners". British Vogue. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  30. ^ Klerk, Amy de (2020-10-28). "The BFC is launching a new project that celebrates Black British fashion and culture". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  31. ^ "British Fashion Council to Award Gucci's New Creative Director". Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  32. ^ Theodosi, Natalie (2020-09-22). "British Fashion Council Names New Set of Grant Recipients". WWD. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  33. ^ Zhang, Tianwei (2020-10-05). "The British Fashion Council Announces MA Scholarship Recipients". WWD. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  34. ^ Theodosi, Natalie (2020-10-15). "British Fashion Council Takes 2020 Fashion Awards Digital". WWD. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  35. ^ "British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2021 Shortlist Announced". Executive Bulletin. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  36. ^ "British Fashion Council Names BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund Nominees". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-08-03.

External links[]

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