Priya Ahluwalia wins 2021 BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund

“Priya demonstrated perceptive design and business acumen, drawing on the contemporary sensibilities of the modern consumer, propelling her to the top of the talent pool. I look forward to seeing Priya’s business grow and become an established international brand,” said Dylan Jones OBE, BFC chair of menswear and editor of British GQ.

This year’s shortlist included Bethany Williams, Bianca Saunders, Feng Chen Wang, Nicholas Daley and Stefan Cooke, who participated in a mentoring programme where industry experts and judging committee members provided guidance on topics such as strategic planning, branding, leadership, commercial retail, e-tail and wholesale and digital innovation. The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund is supported by Clearpay, BFC said in a press release.

This year’s judging panel was chaired by Jones and included representatives from businesses who support the Fund and industry experts Alison Lomax, MD lifestyle retail Google UK; Alton Mason, fashion model; Andrew Maag, CEO Dunhill; Ben Banks, director Four Marketing; Bruce Pask, men's fashion director Bergdorf Goodman; Caroline Rush CBE, BFC; Hector Bellerin, professional footballer; Jonathan Akeroyd, CEO Gianni Versace SpA; Kim Jones OBE, artistic director Dior Mens & Fendi Womenswear; Natalie McGrath, VP marketing NA and EMEA Clearpay; Pierre M’pelé, editor The Perfect Magazine; Simon Longland, menswear director Harrods; Stephen Doig, Men's Style editor & assistant luxury editor Telegraph; Teo van der Broeke, style & grooming director British GQ.

The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund is part of the BFC Foundation which brings all the BFC’s charitable initiatives under one umbrella, supporting the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on education, grant-giving and business mentoring, and further enhancing the UK’s position as the best place to study, start and develop a fashion business. Last May, BFC had announced that it raised £1.7 million in 2020-21 for the BFC Foundation and its talent support initiatives, supporting 34 designers and a number of students.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)