The future faces of fashion

Last month we announced that entries were open for The Future of Fashion Program, a collaboration between Not Just a Label and Who's Next, who are currently searching for the next young designer. After a difficult month sifting through entries from the NJAL website, we are happy to announce the shortlist of 20 names who have been announced as the industry’s latest batch of talent.

At the end of the month, finalists will unveil their AW14 collections in Paris at a unique Who's Next trade show where they’ll be given their own stands from which to present their designs, alongside invaluable advice from a panel of the industry’s best mentors, including buyers (Lambert & Associates), consultants (KOKA Consulting and Fidancia) and sales directors (Who’s Next), as well as NJAL founder himself Stefan Siegel, in order to help the designers make a worthy mark on the fashion world.

Entrants have been whittled down to 10 ready-to-wear designers, including Claire Yurika Davis, who launched her label Hanger just last year. Davis, who will present her AW14 collection in Paris later this month told us, “It's amazing to be accepted as a designer, I've never been selected for a competition before so I couldn't really believe it. It's also incredibly exciting. Of course, its created a certain amount of pressure but it's good to have focus and a goal to work towards.” Ten accessory designers have also been selected to show in Paris including Tengiz Chketiani, who has seen his label Charkviani shortlisted ahead of thousands of others from the NJAL website. Chketiani told us, “Being shortlisted for Who's Next means a great deal to me. It will open the next chapter for the brand. NJAL is an absolutely amazing platform for young brands like myself to gain international awareness.”

During the trade show, judges will choose five of the most promising designers from each category to progress to the semi-finals. The winners, who will be announced in July 2015, will see their designs featured in the pages of Dazed & Confused, as well as receiving continued support from the mentors who will help them to craft a full business plan, inevitably paving the way for them to become the future faces of fashion.