‘This Grant Has Come at a Time of Such Incredible Need’—The BFC Announces Its Foundation Fund Recipients

Steff Yotka
·3 min read

Fashion, like many industries, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. In the United Kingdom, the British Fashion Council is awarding 1 million British pounds to more than three dozen British-owned businesses and a select group of students to support them throughout the crisis. “Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen an astonishing amount of applications come through from British designer businesses all over the country, asking for help to survive the crisis. The need for support is immense,” wrote BFC CEO Caroline Rush in a statement. “Our hope is to reopen the fund for future rounds, to help as many businesses as possible, and ensure the future growth and success of the British fashion industry.”

“This grant has come at a time of such incredible need for funds for small fashion business, and we are extremely grateful and appreciate so much the decision of the BFC to create these grants and give us all the opportunity to get past this extremely difficult time,” wrote Chopova Lowena designers Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena in a joint statement. “Through the support of the BFC, with the additional funding we will be able to continue our brand and carry on the production of our orders.”

Chopova Lowena, also a recipient of the shared 2020 LVMH Prize, represents just one of the brands being supported by the BFC. In total, 37 labels will receive a grant, including Alighieri, 16Arlington, Ahluwalia, Aries, Art School, Bethany Williams, Bianca Saunders, Chalayan, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, Chopova Lowena, Craig Green, David Koma, E. Tautz, E.L.V. Denim, Edeline Lee, Eftychia, Halpern, King & Tuckfield, Kwaidan Editions, Liam Hodges, Matty Bovan, Métier, Nabil Nayal, Neous, Nicholas Daley, Palmer/Harding, Paper London, Paria Farzaneh, Per Götesson, Phoebe English, Raeburn, Rejina Pyo, Richard Malone, Richard Quinn, Roksanda, Stefan Cooke, and Toogood. Each brand will receive a maximum sum of 50,000 British pounds as well as mentoring from industry leaders.

A look from Eftychia’s fall 2020 collection
A look from Eftychia’s fall 2020 collection
Photo: Mate Moro / Courtesy of Eftychia

“It’s actually vital,” says Eftychia Karamolegkou, who plans to use her grant to support fall 2020 production. “The brand’s income is solely dependent on wholesale. Because of the current situation, some of the retailers weren’t able to proceed to a deposit payment for the coming production. With this funding I’m able to take those accounts on even without the deposit and continue building our relationship that’s already been started from the previous seasons.”

The BFC’s fund is made possible by realloting grants from the organization’s many other prizes and forms of support, including the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and BFC Newgen. According to a release, the BFC has already seen more than 220 applications for support grants and plans to continue to roll out grants throughout the year. In addition, the BFC is lobbying the British government for additional support as well as accepting donations for the next round of grants. Alexander McQueen, Browns, and the Coach Foundation have already donated sums for future recipients.

“We hope that this strengthens us all,” wrote Chopova and Lowena. “Already, the sense of community in fashion has proven that it will survive, and adapt and change as needed.”

Originally Appeared on Vogue