The British Fashion Council‘s NEWGEN initiative has championed emerging UK talent for over 30 years, spotlighting dynamic and young creatives making a mark beyond their fields. Through top-tier mentorships, runway opportunities, and monetary grants, dozens of designers have been launched into stardom, including Grace Wales Bonner, Craig Green, and Kiko Kostadinov.
The BFC has announced its class of 2024/25, welcoming AARON ESH, ANCUȚA SARCA, Charlie Constantinou, Chet Lo, DERRICK, DI PETSA, HARRI, JOHANNA PARV, Karoline Vitto, Kazna Asker, Leo Carlton, LUEDER, MASHA POPOVA, Paolo Carzana, Pauline Dujancourt, Sinéad O’Dwyer, Steve O Smith, The Winter House, TOLU COKER, and YAKU.
While several big names return to the NEWGEN scheme — Chet Lo, The Winter House, TOLU COKER — a slew of fresh faces prepare for their first year under the NEWGEN umbrella. Since his entrance, Chet Lo’s spiked knitwear has appeared on red-carpet events worldwide, dressing A-list celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Ashley Graham. HARRI’s inflated latex has made noise on and off the runway, seeing Sam Smith shut down the BRIT Awards red carpet in 2023 with a bulging one-piece ensemble.
From womenswear to menswear and accessories, BFC NEWGEN will continue to uplift talent under its wing, providing endless opportunities for them to thrive on UK soil. All 20 designers can expand their design languages in multiple directions, building their brands during London Fashion Week and beyond while harnessing new business and design skills to grow as creative entrepreneurs.
Take a closer look at the designers in BFC NEWGEN’s class of 2024/25 above.