British Fashion Council Names 2020 New Wave Creatives
LONDON — Ahead of the Fashion Awards which are taking place digitally on Thursday, Dec. 3, the British Fashion Council has recognized a new cohort of young creatives as part of this year’s New Wave: creatives’ initiative.
Among the recipients is director Fenn O’Meally; activist Kai-Isaiah Jamal, who was recently featured reciting a poem about climate change in a Vivienne Westwood campaign; casting directors Nicola Kast and Arianna Pradarelli; image-makers Carlijn Jacobs, Quil Lemons and Huang Jiaqi; podcaster Trey Gaskin, and stylists Flora Huddart and Ola Ebiti.
The program, which has been going since 2018, recognizes up-and-coming talents from across the fashion and beauty space. Photographers, stylists, set designers and hair, nail or makeup artists tend to be among those who are recognized.
Continuing the initiative, in a year when creatives were facing canceled contracts and a lack of government support, was crucial, said the BFC.
“This year has been extremely challenging for our community of creatives and freelancers. Many of them in the U.K. are still struggling with issues such as decreased incomes due to lack of work, termination of contracts and exclusion from government support,” said BFC chief executive officer Caroline Rush, who also pointed to this year’s revised selection process.
Instead of 100 creatives, the BFC chose to highlight a smaller group of 50 to allow for “deeper dialogue with, and support of, these talents.”
Another difference this year was a two-stage voting system, with last year’s talent and a new steering committee taking part in selecting this year’s winners.
The new steering committee includes a wide range of established industry professionals, such as models Adut Akech, Aaron Phillips and Paloma Elsesser; designer Charles Jeffrey; makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench; stylist Marc Goehring, and editors from publications including Another, GQ Style, British Vogue, Vogue U.S. and Dazed China.
“The criteria was to vote for the most creative new talent across disciplines in fashion other than design. The voting committee was also actively encouraged to think outside of their home countries to ensure the list included talent from around the globe,” Rush said of the selection process.
This year’s groups will also have ongoing access to the members of the steering committee and will also be supported by yearlong p.r. and social media campaigns via the BFC platforms.
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