Priya Ahluwalia, Founder of Ahluwalia, is the winner of the 2021 BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund. Ahluwalia received a 12-month bespoke high-level business mentoring programme, pro-bono legal services from Sheridans and a £150,000 cash prize.
Last year’s shortlist included Bethany Williams, Bianca Saunders, Feng Chen Wang, Nicholas Daley and Stefan Cooke, who all participated in a mentoring programme where both industry experts and judging committee members provided guidance on topics including, strategic planning, branding, leadership, commercial retail, e-tail and wholesale and digital innovation.
The 2021 judging panel was chaired by Dylan Jones, BFC Chair of Menswear and Editor of British GQ and was made up of representatives from businesses who support the Fund and industry experts Alison Lomax, Managing Director Lifestyle Retail Google UK; Alton Mason, Fashion Model; Andrew Maag, Chief Executive Officer Dunhill; Ben Banks, Director Four Marketing; Bruce Pask, Men's Fashion Director Bergdorf Goodman; Caroline Rush CBE, British Fashion Council; Hector Bellerin, Professional Footballer; Jonathan Akeroyd, Chief Executive Officer Gianni Versace SpA; Kim Jones OBE, Artistic Director Dior Mens & Fendi Womenswear; Natalie McGrath, Vice President 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.
Previous winners of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund include A-COLD-WALL* (2019), Craig Green (2016), E Tautz (2015) and Christopher Shannon (2014).