The scheme, which is supported by high-street giant Topshop, helps up-and-coming designers to find their feet on the fashion scene, and has already been responsible for propelling a swathe of the UK's hottst designers to stardom - Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Alexander McQueen and Giles Deacon all kickstarted their careers with assistace from the sponsorship.
Next season will see many of last season's favourites returning to the catwalk. Mark Fast, who caused quite a stir with his plus sized models in September, Mary Katranzou, Meadham Kirchhoff (pictured) and British Fashion Award winners Peter Pilotto will all hit the runway again. And Louise Gray, Maria Francesca Pepe, Sykes and Holly Fulton (another British Fashion Awards winner) will all host presentations throughout the week.
The designers will also be given space at the Fashion Week exhibition. And they're not the only ones - Atalanta Weller, Craig Lawrence, Michael van der Ham, Dominic Jones, KTZ, LP.BG and Michael Lewis will also take part.
But the names that everyone will be watching are the new additions to the list: David Koma, who graduated earlier this year and whose dresses have already been sported by everyone from Cheryl Cole to Beyonce; Christopher Raeburn, whose uber-cool, recycled rain coats are a favourite with the fashion pack; accessories and womenswear designer Fannie Schiavoni; and Fashion East favourite Natascha Stolle.
London Fashion Week will be held from 19-24 February 2009 at Somerset House.
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