Meet The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2017 Finalists

The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2017 shortlist has been announced: Huishan Zhang, Mother of Pearl, Osman, Palmer Harding, Shrimps, Sophie Hulme and Toogood. The seven labels will compete for the prize of £200,000 plus mentoring and support, which this year, "in recognition of the increasing pool of deserving talent", will be shared by up to three of the finalists.

The judging committee - chaired by Vogue editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman and comprising fashion-industry insiders including Caroline Rush, British Fashion Council; Gemma Metheringham, Label; Helen David, Harrods; Ian Lewis, Harrys of London Limited; Joan Burstein, Browns; Lisa Armstrong, The Daily Telegraph; Mary Homer, Topshop; Samantha Cameron, British Fashion Council ambassador; Sarah Manley, Burberry; and Susanne Tide-Frater, Farfetch - chose companies that they felt had the potential to become global brands with the right support.Vogue Fashion Fund Reveals New Format

"This year’s shortlist is an excellent demonstration of the breadth of fashion talent in this country," Shulman said. "Any one of them will be a worthy recipient of funding that is specifically designed to help their business in a very targeted way so that it can grow into a greater role on the global fashion stage. I congratulate all of the shortlisted designers for the tenacious creativity that has got them to this point."

The next phase of the competition will take place on February 2, when the shortlisted designers present their vision for the future to the panel, and the winner will be announced on April 4. The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is supported by British Vogue, Burberry, Harrods, LABEL, Paul Smith and Topshop.