Fashion Competitions that can help you grow your business
Posted by Megan on September 16, 2009 | 6 Comments
As the number of emerging designers in Europe grow, private companies and fashion-focused institutions are keen on developing new talents. Below is a list – in no particular order – of nine fashion competitions that could be useful in helping you grow your label.
Let us know in the comments if you spot any omissions!
1. NewGen. (London) Created by the British Fashion Council in 1993 it was the world’s first scheme to support emerging designer talent, NEWGEN is the most sought-after competition for fashion designers in the UK. Winners are given sponsorship to put on catwalk shows, presentations or exhibit. Their alumni list reads like a who’s who of London fashion and includes Alexander McQueen, Boudicca, Giles Deacon and Jonathan Saunders – among others.
2. Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden. (London) Fashion Fringe, sponsored by IMG, is dedicated in promoting British talent. Finalists are given a budget to cover their expenses (living expenses, fabric, technical staff) in creating up with a collection. The winner receives business training, industry mentoring and marketing support from Fashion Fringe partners.
3. International Talent Support. (Trieste, Italy) ITS is divided into three competitions – Fashion, Accessories and Photography. It was put together eight years ago for new talents all over the world. ITS gives its winners financial opportunities, work placements and occasions to have their work shown to a jury of industry professionals.
4. Fashion East. (London) Fashion East is a great way to get large amounts of PR and an entry to London Fashion Week. It’s a non-profit organization based at the Truman Brewery, the creative hub of London’s East End. With an impressive 8-year track record, Fashion East offers financial support to the winners as well as catwalk show production, PR support and expert advice to help them come up with a label.
5. ANDAM Paris International Fashion Award. (France) ANDAM is a prestigious European fashion competition, having launched the careers of Martin Margiela, Viktor & Rolf, Jeremy Scott. It offers a bursary worth 150,000 Euros (2008) and industry support in France. The competition is open to fashion designers of any nationality under the age of 40. Entry forms are available at their website.
6. El Boton – Mango Fashion Awards. (Spain) A joint effort between button set company El Boton and retail giant Mango, with support from prestigious design schools all over Europe: Central Saint Martins, Escola Superior de Disseny, Institut Français de la Mode, Istituto Marangoni and the Antwerp royal academy. “These schools will form part of the First Jury, which will shortlist the 10 finalists out of the 50 candidates previously selected by the Mango Committee.” The prize is 300,00 Euros!
7. Plus 46 Awards (Stockholm) +46 Awards aims to bring out Scandinavia’s next biggest fashion designer. The sole winner will given the opportunity to present their collection at Stockholm Fashion Week. The winner also gets a deal to sell the collection to one of Scandinavia’s biggest department stores, PUB.
8. International de Mode et de Photographie à Hyères. (France) The Hyeres Festival is an annual competition for both fashion designers and photographers. Eleven fashion designers showcase their collections and compete for three major prizes: The 1.2.3 Award – opportunity to design an entire collection that will be produced and distributed by 1.2.3. and a grant of 15,000 EUR. The L’Oréal Professional Award – 15,000 EUR additional financial support. The Punto Seta Award – four designers are invited to Punto Seta’s production facilities where they are given free rein to create and use any type of fabric.
Although you can’t apply for it, the Swiss Textiles Award is worth mentioning. It’s aimed at designers who have already had a fair amount of exposure, with potential to grow. Every year the award is presented at the Swiss Textile Federation’s event, the Stella Fashion Night. The winner receives a prize worth 100,000 Euros, of which 10% are earmarked for the purchase of Swiss fabrics.
Apply to these events. Even if you don’t make it the first time, it can be rewarding to stay on their radar and update them regarding your successes.
Tags: andam > design competitions > el boton > fashion design competitions > fashion east > fashion fringe > hyeres > international talent support > newgen > plus 46 > swiss textile awards
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6 Responses to “Fashion Competitions that can help you grow your business”
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September 27th, 2009 @ 1:35 am
This is excellent information for all those starting their own fashion business. Winning such a competition would be a dream come true for many.
Thank you for sharing
October 26th, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
Dear all at World on a hanger,
I hope you are all well and just wanted to congraulate you on your blog.It is extremly informative?
I graduated from The London College of Fashion, in 2008 (with a BA (hons) in Fashion, Design and Technology) and spent my summer designing for a charity in South Africa.
Upon my return from South Africa, I decided to start up her own responsible fashion label (both ethical and environmentally aware). ‘Beautiful Soul’ became a reality in November 2008. http://www.beautiful-soul.co.uk
‘Beautiful Soul’ is an eco luxury womenswear label and has gained recognition for its creative, intelligent and open minded approach to design, winning the Ethical Fashion Forum’s Innovation award, in February 2009. In addition, ‘Beautiful Soul’ has just shown at ‘Estethica’, London Fashion Week and showcased at the Interstoff Asia, Hong Kong; promoting sustainable fashion design. Things are definitely moving in the right direction and the hard work is starting to pay off.
I am driven by my ethos and I can honestly say, that to me its not about the greed ( I spent my early days in a career, chasing the next pay rise …it certainly didn’t make me happy- which is why I gave up the rat race, made the necessary sacrifices and continue to chase my dreams) and its certainly not about the fame. My ultimate goal is to translate my sincere passion and share an idea, in the hope that I can drive ‘responsible’ fashion forward and inspire other designers to adopt a more thoughtful approach to design, by proving that innovation allows us to be as free and as radical, as our mainstream competitors. Being responsible is not an excuse to compromise on style. By forming a collective and a communal vision, we can, and we will make a difference. You can find out more about my ethos at http://www.beautiful-soul.co.uk
Thank you for your time, and thanks again.
Kind regards,
Nicola.
October 27th, 2009 @ 9:08 am
Very helpful……. this will for sure help me in establishing my Haute Couture business… This has shown a new window, a new vision ahead…
Thank you very much…..
February 10th, 2010 @ 5:51 pm
Thanks! This blog is a designers dream!
February 23rd, 2010 @ 10:34 am
great! thanks… i have been searching for such a long time for information like that! juhu!
March 3rd, 2010 @ 4:30 am
I am fashion designer, and have been putting my innate desire to create ethnic and western dresses right during my college days at JD Institute of Fashion designing, Bangalore for friends and their circle.
Learnt finer market nuances with my first break with label “OPTIONS” in Bangalore and got more technical.
Colors play a significant role in my life, as a painter. They reflect my state of mind & define my dressing style. Naturally they show in my creations. I believe fashion should be fun, colorful & above all it should be comfortable. Whatever the occasion and outfit – traditional, casual or a formal, I should make you feel good.
Eager, to travel the path, I create First label “PEARS Collection” in 1999 in partnership, creating blend of ethnic and western dresses for working women.
Well, Journey had just begun and to learn more I moved on to work for best international Industry Brands as Merchandiser, enriching myself with technical knowledge and developed eye for detail.
My label “AM COUTURE” is to provide couture designs that are comfortable and a reflection of current trends, styles and fusion of cultures. Creations under Label are available in some of the high fashioned boutiques in hydrabad and bangalore ,
but now i want to explore the internation market and see if i can grow my bussiness ,
recently participated in Bnagalore fashion week where i showcase my winter 2010 collection
but am looing for some new venues to explore the international bussiness
regds- amita