PRESS RELEASE 16 th December 2010 BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL ANNOUNCE NEWGEN MEN RECIPIENTS FOR AUTUMN / WINTER 2011 The British Fashion Council (BFC) has today announced that eight of London s most exciting emerging menswear fashion design talents will receive sponsorship from its designer support initiative NEWGEN MEN sponsored by TOPMAN. All recipients will receive business support, funding and the opportunity to use the official BFC venue to host either a catwalk show or, following on from the success of last season, a presentation or an installation during London Fashion Week s (LFW) Menswear Day, on Wednesday 23 rd February 2011. The recipients of NEWGEN MEN, sponsored by TOPMAN are: Catwalk sponsorship (shows will take place in the BFC Show Space): Christopher Shannon, James Long and J.W. Anderson. Salon show sponsorship (TOPMAN show space at the Royal Opera House): Lou Dalton. Presentation sponsorship (presentations will take place in the Portico Rooms): Katie Eary, Omar Kashoura, and SIBLING. Installation sponsorship (installations will take place in the ground floor showrooms): Christopher Raeburn. NEWGEN MEN began in February 2009, building on TOPMAN and Fashion East s successful MAN initiative. It has since become instrumental in raising the profile of emerging British designers using the dedicated Menswear Day at London Fashion Week as a showcasing platform. As well as sponsorship, the initiative offers its recipients tailored business and mentoring support, with a view to increasing the success of their business commercially and building relationships with key press and buyers. NEWGEN MEN continues to promote the best
of British menswear talent for the fourth consecutive season, with ongoing dedicated support from TOPMAN. NEWGEN MEN recipient James Long s continued success led to him holding his first stand alone catwalk show last season, and through the scheme s sponsorship Long will once again host a catwalk show on Menswear Day. Long s unique aesthetic combines knitwear, print, denim and his signature biker jackets with bold uses of colour running through the collection, a combination that has won him NEWGEN MEN sponsorship for the fourth time. The creative and technically talented trio behind SIBLING have between them worked for Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon, Lanvin, Jonathan Saunders and Bella Freud. Their signature hand-crafted, bold and progressive knitwear will be shown in a presentation format during LFW. Highlights from previous seasons include their highly wearable knitwear pieces ranging from graphic prints to statement jumpers, creating a highly successful and commercially viable collection. J.W. Anderson s SS11 collection built on his signature style of reinterpreting traditional menswear silhouettes, going against the grain to create new movements in menswear. Previously collaborating with Swarovski, Anderson created crystal embellished garments and paired these with statement accessory pieces to unify his collection. Fellow menswear designer Christopher Shannon, whose previous collaborations include accessories for Eastpak and a line for TOPMAN, will show his luxury sportswear collection in his first stand alone show. The NEWGEN MEN selection committee is made up of key opinion formers across media and retail industries. This season the panel included Gordon Richardson, TOPMAN; Jason Griffiths, TOPMAN; Jo-Ann Furniss, Arena Homme Plus; Charlie Porter, Fantastic Man; Stephen Ayres, Liberty; Jeremy Langmead, Mr Porter; Lulu Kennedy, Fashion East/MAN; Patrick Grant, Norton & Sons; Robert Johnston, GQ; Richard Johnson, Harvey Nichols; Adam Kelly, Selfridges and Tim Blanks, Style.com. Simon Ward, Chief Operating Officer at the British Fashion Council, commented NEWGEN MEN has quickly grown from an experimental pilot to a successful talent identification scheme and support initiative, highlighting how British menswear designers are forging a global reputation for innovation. Tim Blanks, Contributing Editor, Style.com and a member of the British Fashion Council's Menswear Committee said, We're entering a new world here - I can't think of another time when the local menswear scene has covered such a broad spectrum. The message is clear: strength in diversity.
Gordon Richardson, Design Director, TOPMAN, who was also on the selection panel, adds NEWGEN MEN now an established and integral part of London Fashion Week has rapidly become THE fashion barometer for all that's exciting and dynamic in British menswear. For Topman to have been instrumental in this renaissance is both a joy and a privilege. London Fashion Week s womenswear shows will run from Friday 18 th Tuesday 22 nd February 2010 and menswear collections will be shown on Wednesday 23 rd February. Alfred Dunhill will host a pre-cursor show to the menswear collections on the evening of Tuesday 22 nd February. London Fashion Week is located at Somerset House, Strand WC2. For more information on the NEWGEN MEN designers visit www.britishfashioncouncil.com/newgenmen - Ends - For press enquiries regarding NEWGEN MEN at London Fashion Week please contact: Gemma Ebelis, PR Manager, British Fashion Council +44 (0) 20 7759 1999 / (0)7802 393 411 gemma.ebelis@britishfashioncouncil.com For designers wishing to apply for NEWGEN MEN or to be part of Menswear Day please contact: Katie Bain, Show Manager, British Fashion Council +44 (0) 20 7759 1978 katie.bain@britishfashioncouncil.com For TOPMAN enquiries, please contact: Kelly Reed, TOPMAN Press Office +44 (0) 20 7291 2721 kelly.reed@topman.com
EDITORS NOTES: 1. The British Fashion Council (BFC) was set up in 1983 to promote British fashion internationally and co-ordinate this promotion through fashion weeks, exhibitions and showcasing events. The BFC now supports designers beginning at college level and extending to talent identification, business support and showcasing schemes to help British designer businesses develop their profiles and business globally and promote British fashion and its influential role in Creative Britain and Creative London. The BFC Colleges Council offers support to students through its MA Scholarship, links with industry through Design Competitions and Graduate Preview Day. Talent identification and business support schemes include the BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad; BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund; Estethica; Fashion Forward sponsored by Coutts & Co; NEWGEN sponsored by Topshop and NEWGEN MEN sponsored by TOPMAN. Showcasing initiatives include London Fashion Week, LONDON showrooms, the BFC/Harper s Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation and the annual celebration of excellence in the fashion industry, the British Fashion Awards. 2. The NEWGEN womenswear sponsorship was established in 1993, acting as a promotional launch pad for young designers, attracting media profile, orders and investment whilst offering encouragement and support for new talent. Topshop is the sponsor of NEWGEN. 3. Previous NEWGEN MEN winners include Carolyn Massey, Christopher Raeburn, Christopher Shannon, James Long, James Small, JW Anderson, Katie Eary, Lou Dalton, Omar Kashoura and Sibling. 4. Sarah Mower was appointed the British Fashion Council s first Ambassador for Emerging Talent in May 2009. 5. London Fashion Week is owned and organised by the British Fashion Council. 6. MAN is a joint partnership between TOPMAN and Fashion East. Born twelfth seasons ago, MAN strives to promote and support young British menswear talent offering young designers the chance to show during LFW.
BIOGRAPHIES: Christopher Raeburn, a highly respected young British fashion designer who is becoming increasingly visible in the world of fashion for creating ethically-aware men s and womenswear collections that are original in design and high in quality. Utilising re-appropriated military fabrics, Christopher Raeburn creates garments that are functional, intelligent and meticulously crafted, and which have been presented successfully at London and Paris Fashion Weeks for two seasons. Staunchly British, all Raeburn garments are proudly Remade in England and produced in East London. Christopher is currently supported by BFC s NEWGEN and Centre for Fashion Enterprise. www.christopherraeburn.co.uk Sales contact: Lizzie McQuade+44 (0) 20 7514 9354 sales@christopherraeburn.co.uk Press contact: Florence Laud-Anderson, Cube +44 (0) 20 7242 5483 florence@cubecompany.com Christopher Shannon Liverpudlian menswear designer Christopher Shannon graduated from Central Saint Martins MA in 2008. After his graduate collection was presented at London Fashion Week he has gone on to show three seasons at MAN. Famed for his 'Refined Scallyism' and overbearing prints, Christopher continues to work on his colourful luxe sports inspired clothing gaining legions of fans in the process. Last season saw him launch his first collection for TOPMAN and the commercial release of 'Eastpak By Christopher Shannon' both lines ensuring the brand is seeded into top stores internationally including Liberty and Selfridges. www.christophershannon.co.uk Sales contact: James Costas-Michael james@christophershannon.co.uk +44(0)7851 020 480 Press contact: Graeme Gaughan christophershannon@iprlondon.com +44(0)20 7739 0272 James Long Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2007 with an MA in Menswear and Accessories, James Long has fast become one of the most sought after new menswear talents in London. With a huge fan base ranging from Alister Mackie, Fashion Director of Another Man, Luke Day of Arena Homme Plus, and Lanvin s Lucas Ossendriver praising James as his favourite young Designer. James has certainly made his mark as the menswear designer to watch. James Long debuted in February 2007 at London Fashion Week s MAN show, a show that introduced London menswear to a new level of refinement according to Dazed and Confused. Since these early days James has gone on to become the NEWGEN MEN favourite, winning its first ever award, as well as glowing reviews from Style.com and Tim Blanks, thus cementing James Long as the one to watch. For his AW10 collection James used texture and a minimal colour palette to showcase his signature Biker Jackets and knitwear, which are always widely acclaimed and sought after by the likes of Simon Foxton and some of the world s leading stores. His latest projects have included limited edition accessories for Browns, and limited edition T-Shirts for concept store Colette in Paris. It is his instantly recognisable use of leather, print and denim and hardwearing utility wear that is key to the James Long aesthetic. Whilst working closely with stylist Bryan McMahon, James Long has become one of the hottest tickets at LFW. www.jameslonguk.com Sales contact: Charlotte Long +44 (0) 7866 481 141 sales@jameslonguk.com Press contact: Michael Duce, Relative MO +44 (0) 20 7749 4510 michael@relativemo.com
J.W. Anderson was established in 2007, presenting menswear and accessories. Constantly aiming to push the boundaries of traditional and iconic menswear imagery and perceptions. With diverse inspirations often stemming from historical contexts and literature to challenge the established protocols of men s fashion and the visual aspects surrounding it. J.W. Anderson has quickly established himself as a leading menswear designer in London. Jonathan takes iconic men s shapes and reinterprets them using unexpected fabrics. His silhouette is challenging and refreshing, going against the grain and creating new movements in menswear. www.j-w-anderson.com Sales contact: Matthew Mumford +44 (0) 7595 480 661 sales@j-w-anderson.com Press contact: Miho Kushibe +44(0) 20 7287 1314 miho@aipr.co.uk Katie Eary is the London-based designer who will soon need no introduction her aggressive but noble menswear is an unstoppable, inevitable hurricane ripping its own path through fashion. If difficult social and economic times such as this bring watershed moments, rare changes of perspective that grab fashion by the lapel and drag it into the future, then Katie is the young talent that really is the burgeoning voice, and attitude, of our generation. Eary studied her MA at the Royal College of Art and graduated just last year. Heat started generating almost immediately: the first call she received was from British Vogue. Mario Testino was to shoot her custom-made pieces on Kate Moss. Even the hats, she reiterates. I didn t train to be a millinery designer and I didn t make womenswear, yet out of all the people that graduated that year they chose my stuff. That s pretty incredible. I think if I d been doing womenswear, that wouldn t have happened. And I think that about a lot of the opportunities that have come my way... I m coming in through the back door, I think it s something I ve spent quite a lot of my life doing. But of course, fashion is a system that relies on beautiful product at the end, no matter what the starting point. It s here that Eary excels everything is bespoke and handmade by the designer herself in the finest wools, leather, brass and Swarovski crystals. Then there are here full-on SAGA furs in the street wear shapes. If Savile Row is struggling to modernise itself and become welcoming to younger clientele, British tailoring could take a few tips from Katie s couture-led approach. www.katieeary.co.uk Sales contact: Katie Eary +44 (0) 78 1773 6331 katie.eary@network.rca.ac.uk Press contact: Richard Storer +44 (0) 20 7907 7233 richard.storer@exposure.net Lou Dalton's career began back in her home county of Shropshire when she left school at 16 to take up an apprenticeship in bespoke tailoring and pattern cutting. A desire to play a more creative role led on to further studies, resulting in an MA in Menswear from the Royal College of Art in 1998. On graduation Lou moved to Italy and worked as a design consultant, a job she would remain in on her return to London, with her clients including the likes of Hamish Morrow and Stone Island. Ever honing her own aesthetic and eager to create her own menswear collection, Lou Dalton collection was launched and has since steadily developed a reputation and gained recognition for its rebellious 'English' sportswear. www.loudalton.com Sales Contact: Lou Dalton +44 (0) 20 7012 1420 / lou.d@virgin.net Press Contact: Patrick Tcherno / Vicci Frost, Village Press +44 (0) 20 7490 7394 loudalton@village-press.com / vicci@village-press.com
Omar Kashoura. Of Arabic and English heritage, Omar Kashoura successfully graduated in 2004 with first class honours from the London College of Fashion, and a collection that secured Best International Menswear Designer at New York s Gen Art Style Awards in 2005. Kashoura began his working career at London based fashion house Preen and later Unconditional. In 2006 Kashoura completed his Masters Degree at Central Saint Martin s school of Art and Design. The Omar Kashoura label has since developed into an easily recognisable brand, has gone on to gain support from the Centre for Fashion Enterprise, in 2008 won the prestigious Deutsche Bank Pyramid Award and has been awarded BFC NEWGEN support two seasons running. 2010 saw the launch of a collaboration with the Turkish brand Tween, picked up by Harvey Nichols, Flannels and key stores worldwide. 2012 will see the launch of a designer collaboration with TOPMAN under LENS. www.omarkashoura.com Sales contact: Kyle Robinson, Robinson Pfeffer +44(0)20 7729 6788 kyle@robinsonpfeffer.com Press contact: Caroline Lamb, Cube +44 (0) 20 7242 5483 caroline@cubecompany.com SIBLING, the bold, progressive men s knitwear label, launched on May 29th 2008. Today, the leopard motifs, Breton stripes and their very English humour have gone beyond aesthetic becoming integral to the label s DNA. A collaboration between Joe Bates, Sid Bryan and Cozette McCreery, SIBLING is all for one and one for all. A way to intensify their message further SIBLING s World has featured in some way: musicians Lionel Flairs of Flairs, Schwefelgelb, The Specials Terry Hall and The Horrors experimental side-project Spider and The Flies, design/branding company This Is Real Art, The Smiley Company, photographers Alasdair McLellan, Axel Hoedt and Thomas Giddings, Swarovski, artists Noah Scalin, Will Broome and Nobel & Webster. Sibling's Knitted Skull and matching Skeleton leggings from Collection 2 are part of the permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. www.siblinglondon.com Sales contact: Matthew Waters, TOMORROW +44(0) 20 7253 5753 matthew@tomorrow.com Press contact: Cozette McCreery, +44 (0) 20 7650 7724 cozette@siblinglondon.com