Bethany Williams, Asai & Alighieri Among The Designers Shortlisted For The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund

The 2021 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund shortlist is brimming with movers and shakers set to make the coming year exciting. Reflective of Britain’s vibrant, creative fashion scene and the designers that make it tick, 11 brands – Alighieri, Asai, Bethany Williams, Chopova Lowena, Completedworks, E.L.V. Denim, Halpern, Kwaidan Editions, Olubiyi Thomas, Richard Malone and Supriya Lele – have been chosen for their design excellence, strong business mindset and sustainable practices. Each designer was invited to consider how they are incorporating the three pillars of the BFC’s Institute of Positive Fashion – environment, people, and craftsmanship and community – into their brand.

In response to the global Covid-19 crisis, all of the chosen designers found their own way to tackle the dramatically changing landscape – and do their bit to help. A Sai Ta of Asai put his cult Hot Wok dress into production last summer to raise money for Black Lives Matter, Solace Women’s Aid and The Voice of Domestic Workers; Rosh Mahtani, founder of jewellery brand Alighieri, donated proceeds and launched a capsule to support Refuge; Bethany Williams, an ongoing supporter of The Magpie Project, once again collaborated with the charity for spring/summer 2021. This represents just a handful of the efforts from designers to support those worst affected by the pandemic. Its ongoing impact also means many will present their collections digitally during London Fashion Week autumn/winter 2021, which kicks off today.

British Vogue’s editor-in-chief and Vogue’s european editorial director Edward Enninful joins deputy editor and fashion features director Sarah Harris; British Vogue fashion director Julia Sarr-Jamois; supermodel Adut Akech; CBE of the British Fashion Council Caroline Rush and Natalie Kingham, Matchesfashion.com’s global fashion officer, among others, on the judging panel. The panel will interview the shortlisted designers in March, and the overall winner will be announced in May.

All of the shortlisted designers will receive advice in areas such as accountancy, merchandising, business strategy, international markets, retail and e-commerce, and the winner will be awarded a £200,000 cash prize.

“The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is an integral initiative that supports emerging talent in the UK fashion industry. Now more than ever, we must continue to champion young designers who bring so much inspiration and diversity to British fashion,” remarks Enninful. “Congratulations to all the shortlisted designers who are a true representation of the high calibre of creative talent in the UK.”