BFC announces NEWGEN MEN winners for AW13

Catwalk Sponsorship: Christopher Raeburn; Lee Roach (new); Shaun Samson (new); Sibling

Presentation Sponsorship: Martine Rose; Matthew Miller

Exhibition Sponsorship: Bunney; William Richard Green (new)

All recipients will receive business support and the opportunity to show their AW13 collection on the catwalk, in a presentation, or exhibit during London Collections: Men, 7th – 9th January 2013. London Collections: Men launched in June 2012 and is a three day dedicated menswear showcase, promoting the breadth of London’s menswear, style and culture to a global audience.

This season sees four NEWGEN MEN recipients take to the catwalk in January, the highest number of designers receiving this level of sponsorship since the initiative began.

As well as sponsorship and showcasing opportunities, the initiative offers its recipients tailored business and mentoring support, with a view to increasing the success of their business commercially and building relationships with key press and buyers. DLA Piper is working with the BFC to provide legal and commercial advice to the designers which have been selected for NEWGEN MEN AW13.

NEWGEN MEN began in September 2009, building on TOPMAN and Fashion East’s successful MAN initiative, and has supported designers including Christopher Shannon, James Long and J.W Anderson. It has been instrumental in raising the profile of emerging British menswear designers, previously through Menswear Day and now using London Collections: Men as a showcasing platform.

“Following the success of the inaugural London Collections: Men, we’re delighted to be announcing eight designers who’ll be receiving support at the next showcase in January. The diversity of London’s menswear is testament to the creativity and innovation demonstrated by these designers, with thanks going to TOPMAN for their on-going support of emerging talent and the NEWGEN MEN initiative.” - Caroline Rush, CEO British Fashion Council.

Tim Blanks, Contributing Editor, Style.com and a member of the British Fashion Council's Menswear Committee, said “Each of these names brings a very distinct aesthetic to mind, all radically different. But if I had to tease out a common thread, I'd say it was unconventionality.  I know the very idea is a London cliché, but when you see the fully realised way that NEWGEN's winners challenge the ordinary, the cliché becomes something impressively intelligent and vital.”

Gordon Richardson, Design Director, TOPMAN, who was also on the selection panel, adds “With London Collections: Men proving such a resounding success in June and all eyes on what  London has to offer in January, this season's winners of NEWGEN MEN couldn't represent a more exciting and diverse taste of what British and moreover London menswear has to offer.”

This season’s recipients were chosen by the NEWGEN MEN selection committee which consists of key opinion formers across media and retail. This season the panel included Adam Kelly, Selfridges; Ben Banks, Oki-Ni; Charlie Porter; Gordon Richardson and Jason Griffiths, TOPMAN; Lulu Kennedy, Fashion East; Robbie Spencer, Dazed & Confused; Robert Johnston, GQ; Sam Lobban, Mr Porter; Simon Chilvers, The Guardian and Tim Blanks, Style.com.

British Fashion Council (BFC)