BFC to reboot business support strategy

As London Fashion Week starts, the British Fashion Council has unveiled its new plan to "reinforce London’s reputation as the city to start, develop and grow a designer fashion business."

Over 50% of the London Fashion Week schedule is currently populated by designers who are in or have graduated from BFC initiatives. They include Christopher Kane, Christopher Raeburn, David Koma, Erdem, Gareth Pugh, Giles, House of Holland, Jonathan Saunders, J.W. Anderson, Mary Katrantzou, Osman, Peter Pilotto and Roksanda.

BFC is now taking a number of steps to reboot its support strategy for business. It will create Fashion Explorer workshops to "demystify" the fashion industry for new talent, and build a stronger pipeline of management talent by nurturing closer links to business schools.

The organisation is also relaunching its Designer Fact File, which "will provide downloadable guides, further links and become a hub for digital content supporting fashion business development." BFC is also introducing the BFC Fashion Entrepreneur Programme and a new Brand Builders Programme.

In addition, the BFC announced that global professional services giant KPMG has committed to becoming a Patron of the British Fashion Council.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "British designers are internationally renowned for their innovative ideas and craftsmanship. There is justifiably always a huge buzz around London Fashion Week, with journalists and buyers jetting in from around the world.

Over the past few years British Fashion Council business support and mentoring programmes have had an important role in ensuring our designers are able to develop and thrive in a highly competitive sector. Strengthening this activity will help ensure that even more of them will be able to maximise the business potential of their amazing talent, which can only be a good thing for our city’s reputation for creativity and for our economy."

BFC to reboot business support strategy

See also