BFC/GQ Designer Fund Shortlist Announced In London

Five London designers have been shortlisted for the highly coveted BFC/GQ Designer Men’s Wear Fund 2015. The brands will compete for a prize that includes funds and a mentoring program designed to take their business to the next level.

Astrid Andersen, Christopher Raeburn, E.Tautz, Matthew Miller and Sibling are the designers who made the shortlist, drawn up by the British Fashion Council. “Over the last year the global men’s wear market has grown faster than women’s wear, showing that there has never been a more important time to drive support for accomplished British designer men’s wear businesses,” said Dylan Jones, editor of British GQ and chair of London Collections: Men, to WWD. The fund, which has been created in association with the magazine as well as Vertu, will consist of £150,000 prize money as well as high level guidance from industry insiders, which is just what these designers need in order to expand and grow their businesses. Over the next month, all shortlisted designers will take part in a program that has been designed by the BFC, and includes aspects such as marketing, branding, e-commerce and digital innovation, which the brands will explore with the aid of industry experts.

“The opportunities surrounding men’s wear are still underexploited, which is why we at GQ thought it was so important to launch this men’s wear fund,” explained Jones of his motivation to take part in the fund. The winner is set to be announced on May 12 in London.