Since the initiative’s inception in 1993, NEWGEN have helped launched the careers of some of the fashion industry’s most celebrated designers, from Alexander McQueen to Meadham Kirchhoff, Simone Rocha and J.W.Anderson. Today they’ve announced the eight emerging designers who will be receiving sponsorship next season: Ashley Williams, Claire Barrow, Danielle Romeril, Faustine Steinmetz, Marta Jakubowski, Molly Goddard, Ryan Lo and Sadie Williams.
These designers will be receiving support to showcase their AW16 collections at London Fashion Week in February. This season will be particularly exciting for Jakubowski and Sadie Williams who will be staging standalone presentations for the first time. While Jakubowski has gained a reputation for her copious use of fabric in her collections, Williams is known for her innovative textiles and print design.
“Thanks to the sustained support from Topshop and Sir Philip Green NEWGEN has been London’s prime generator of exciting talent for over a decade,” commented Sarah Mower who is a contributing editor to American Vogue and chair of the NEWGEN selection. “The long-term pattern of success was again readable at this year’s British Fashion Awards, where former ‘graduates’ J.W.Anderson, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Thomas Tait and Jordan Askill swept the board.”
NEWGEN’s announcement comes just a day after MAN – Fashion East’s menswear support scheme – announced their AW16 line-up. Grace Wales Bonner and Charles Jeffrey will both be returning at LC:M this January, after stunning the industry with their respective presentations at the ICA in June. Inspired by the story of Malik Ambar, Wales Bonner explored the cross-cultural elements between Africa and West India while Jeffrey staged his LOVERBOY club night with models dancing on a stage dressed in his collection.
