BFC NEWGEN supports the best emerging fashion design talent, with the aim of building the global, high-end brands of the future. Recipients are selected for their creativity, strong aesthetic and innovative approach to design.
NEWGEN is open to ready-to-wear and accessories, including shoes, bags and millinery, with recipients selected by a judging panel chaired by Sarah Mower MBE. Designers can be part of BFC NEWGEN for up to three years, subject to a yearly reapplication process.
Recipients receive a bursary to support cash flow, showcasing opportunities at London Fashion Week, and bespoke mentoring and business upskilling sessions delivered by BFC mentors and the NEWGEN panel, all designed to help future-proof their businesses.
The 2026/27 recipients are:
A LETTER | CHARLIE CONSTANTINOU | E.W.USIE | FRANCESCA LAKE | GUI ROSA* | JOHANNA PARV | KAROLINE VITTO | LIZA KEANE | LUEDER | OCTI | OSCAR OUYANG | PAULINE DUJANCOURT | PETRA FAGERSTRÖM* | STEVE O SMITH | THE OUZE | YAKU
(*New recipients 2026/27)
Thank you to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for their continued support of BFC NEWGEN. Many thanks also to DLA Piper for their pro-bono legal services, RSM for their business management mentoring, Zedonk, and our individual mentors.
Minimum Standards
The BFC has partnered with Copenhagen Fashion Week to roll out its Sustainability Requirements across BFC NEWGEN. Following the framework developed by CPHFW, the Minimum Standards are a mandatory requirement for NEWGEN brands, and all applicants must respond to 18 statements on key sustainability considerations.
Showcasing
NEWGEN designers have the opportunity to showcase on the official London Fashion Week schedule twice a year, in February and September, through a catwalk show, presentation, appointments, digital activation or evening event. For designers showing a catwalk or presentation in the BFC hub, showcasing support has an average value-in-kind of approximately £80,000 per designer. This includes waived listing fees, a dedicated show producer and production team, basic lighting, seating, sound and security, and a space in the BFC venue, subject to availability. Each recipient is also assigned a member of the BFC Designer Relations Team as their point of contact for all showcasing matters.
NEWGEN recipients are also invited to take part in LONDON show ROOMS, the BFC's seasonal pop-up showroom in Paris, which offers a platform to present their collections to leading international press and buyers.
Mentoring Support
Each NEWGEN designer is assigned a member of the BFC Prizes & Programmes Team as their day-to-day contact for business support. Following a business diagnostic meeting, offered to all recipients, this contact will facilitate introductions to mentors and industry experts in areas ranging from finance and production to merchandising and international trade. NEWGEN designers also receive a designated yearly amount of pro-bono legal counsel from law firms DLA Piper and Eversheds Sutherland.
Grant
NEWGEN recipients receive a grant through the BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 1185152). Established in 2019, the BFC Foundation underpins the UK's creative pipeline, supporting creatives from education through to global business growth via its Prizes and Programmes. Collectively, this work positions British fashion as a driver of the UK's creative economy and a force in global cultural influence. Each recipient signs a grant agreement with the BFC Foundation, which includes a Code of Conduct and a requirement to provide key information for future impact reporting.