Simone Rocha, winner of both an ELLE Style Award and our inaugural ELLE/Cointreau bursary this year, leads the names that the British Fashion Council is officially tipping for fashion greatness as a recipient of NEWGEN sponsored by Topshop - the prestigious fashion award which announced its spring/summer 2014 winners today.
The funding means that, like last season, Rocha will be able to show her new-season collection during the September shows in the capital, on a schedule that will include the likes of Burberry, Paul Smith, Matthew Williamson and Vivienne Westwood.
Joining her on the spring/summer 2014 roster of young talent are yet more ELLE favourites. J.JS Lee, Lucas Nascimento, MarquesAlmeida and Sister by Sibling all gain catwalk funding too, while 1205, Nasir Mazhar and Sophia Webster will show presentations and Liam Fahy wins exhibition sponsorship.
Being part of NEWGEN puts designers on a fast-track to international exposure, giving them the opportunity to learn how to do business and allowing them to meet with top level buyers and press, says Sarah Mower MBE, BFC ambassador for emerging talent and chair of the NEWGEN selection committee.
With the professional backup of an amazing volunteer team of NEWGEN industry committee members, all of the winners this season have honed their product and upped their game. We can't wait for London Fashion Week to see what they'll do.
Nor us. Roll on September.
