Fashion Fringe semi-finalists named

This year, judges including Claudia Schiffer and Roland Mouret simply couldn’t narrow down the talent pool to ten semi-finalists. So they chose 11.

Congratulations are due to Aidan Drago, Bethan Juliff, Danielle Jade Windsor, Fyodor Golan, Heidi Leung, Jiyun Lapthorne, Kimberley Giacomelli, Liz Black, Nabil El-Naya, Nika Urbas and Sam Parsons.

'There was an energy but a seriousness in our choices this year because, as several members of the jury who have worked with us before have said, this is potentially the strongest line up we have had in our eight years,' fashion journalist and Fringe founder Colin McDowell said.

Later this month, judges will whittle down the shortlist to a group of three finalists. After that, one lucky (and hard-working, and innovative) candidate will be crowned the overall winner of Fashion Fringe. That person or team will receive funds to launch their own label, as well as industry mentorship and studio space at Somerset House.

The Fashion Fringe competition has grown into a canny weathervane of emerging London fashion talent. Its alumni roster boasts past winners Erdem, Aminaka Wilmont and Basso & Brooke, as well as finalists William Tempest and Sinha Stanic.

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