London's new designers awarded New Gen sponsorship
 

Twenty of the UK's most talented young designers have been awarded The British Fashion Council's New Generation sponsorship, supported by Topshop, for their catwalk show or their exhibition stand at London Fashion Week September 2008.

The recipients of New Gen, sponsored by Topshop are:   •   Catwalk sponsorship : Louise Goldin, Danielle Scutt, MeadhamKirchhoff, House of Holland, Peter Pilotto.   •   Event Sponsorship : Nasir Mazhar   •   Exhibition sponsorship : Anna Vince, Borba Margo, Cooperative Designs, David David, Emilio de la Morena, FelderoFelder, Hannah Marshall, House of Holland, Krystof Strozyna, Mary Katrantzou, Matthew Cunnington (known as Untitled), MeadhamKirchhoff, Nicholas Kirkwood, Peter Pilotto, Poltock & Walsh, Sandra Backlund and Simone Shailes. Accessory designer, Nasir Mazhar, will be benefiting from the New Gen scheme for the first time and will be using his sponsorship to hold an event during London Fashion Week. Talent The BFC established New Gen in 1993. Since that date is has become the most internationally recognised talent identification scheme in the UK. Its alumni includes many great British designers including Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson, Julien Macdonald, Boudicca, Sara Berman, Giles Deacon, Jonathan Saunders and more recently Christopher Kane and Marios Schwab. Topshop is continuing its support of the New Gen scheme for the fourteenth consecutive season, offering additional support to designers by providing show venues and commissioning special collections available during London Fashion Week. Hilary Riva, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, commented: "New Gen continues to support the   best of London's emerging design talent. With a track record of helping to establish some of the UK's most creative and internationally recognised businesses, I have no doubt these new designers will go on to develop successful careers within the industry." Mary Homer, Managing Director of Topshop adds: "Topshop's sponsorship of the New Generation scheme remains an extremely important part of the brand's ethos. This season we are as excited as ever about the level and quality of work emerging from new young designers in London and especially notable is the individuality and craftsmanship demonstrated in the designers' work." Profile This season, in partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the BFC has brought a select group of French journalists to the UK for the awards announcement, with a view to kick-starting the international profile New Gen will bring to these designers. London Fashion Week will run from Sunday, 14th - Friday, 19th September, 2008. The Exhibition at London Fashion Week will run from Monday, 15th - Thursday, 18th September 2008 and is located in the grounds of the Natural History Museum, London SW7.