BFC news and archive

BFC and Pandora name winners of inaugural Student Prize

The British Fashion Council (BFC), together with jewellery specialist Pandora, has announced the winners of the first Pandora x BFC Student Prize 2025. The recipients were unveiled during an event at London’s Old Sessions House, where student talent from the BFC Colleges Council network were honoured. For this edition, Elizabeth Knight, from the...

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BFC taps Karen Blackett to board of directors

The British Fashion Council (BFC) is turning to the expertise of former government official and marketing leader Karen Blackett to flesh out its board of directors. Blackett’s appointment to the board comes as June Sarpong prepares to wrap up her tenure at the organisation by the end of June. Blackett brings to the BFC experience at leading...

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In wake of tariffs: UK fashion and retail band together on call for VAT-free shopping

A new letter issued to Rachel Reeves, is calling on the UK Chancellor to consider reinstating a tax-free shopping scheme as concerns mount over tariffs. The letter, seen by FashionUnited, was signed by the CEOs of Walpole, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the British Beauty Council and the British Fashion Council (BFC), each representing...

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Patrick McDowell wins Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design

Patrick McDowell has been selected as the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. The Liverpool-born designer was presented with the award by the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, during an event at 180 Studios. He joins the ranks of SS Daley, Saul Nash and Labrum London as a winner of the award. Introduced in 2018, with...

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Conner Ives among BFC Foundation talent support scheme recipients

The British Fashion Council (BFC) Foundation, the registered charity for the BFC, has named the recipients of its annual support schemes, including BFC NewGen in partnership with Pull&Bear, BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund and BFC Fashion Trust. The objective of the BFC Foundation is to support the future growth and...

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‘Fear of regulation’: New BFC-backed report underlines obstacles in development of circular business models

As increasing regulation unfolds in the pursuit of establishing a more circular industry, obstacles and challenges faced by UK brands in their attempts to align with these changes are becoming more and more clear. It is exactly this that is explored in a new report by UK-US consultancy firm Clarasys, backed by the British Fashion Council’s (BFC)...

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BFC cancels London Fashion Week’s June edition

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has cancelled the June edition of London Fashion Week (LFW) as it looks to pivot towards the provision of “vital commercial opportunities for British designers”. LFW June initially launched under the title ‘London Collections: Men’ in 2012 and by 2024 has assumed its new name, yet still retained a focus on...

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Brunello Cucinelli to receive Outstanding Achievement Award at Fashion Awards 2025

Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli has been named as the next recipient of the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) Outstanding Achievement Award, an accolade he will receive during the 2025 Fashion Awards, set to be held December 1. Cucinelli was selected by the BFC Executive Committee, who recognised the designer for his "exceptional contribution...

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Ripples of change: London Fashion Week’s resilience and creative evolution amid adversity

“These are challenging times for British fashion,” said Caroline Rush, the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) outgoing CEO, during London Fashion Week’s opening event on February 21. “Although we’d prefer the landscape to be different, one thing I know is that this community is resilient and creativity is heightened further when facing adversity.”...

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BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund announces 2025 shortlist

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has shortlisted Conner Ives, Di Petsa, Dilara Findikoglu, Edeline Lee and Talia Byre for the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2025 Established in 2008, the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund celebrates “exceptional talent and creativity” and aims to empower business growth through bespoke high-level mentoring and...

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Emerging British designers look to Paris for growth as London Show Rooms returns to PFW

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has confirmed the return of London Show Rooms to Paris Fashion Week, a crucial event for emerging British designers seeking to gain a foothold in the international market. Taking place from March 6 to March 11, 2025, at 2 Rue Saint-Sauveur, Paris, the showroom will feature eight of the BFC Foundation’s most...

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BFC secures new funding from UK government to support emerging designers

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has secured an additional one million pounds in funding from the UK government to back its BFC NewGen programme and support emerging designers. The news was confirmed by the council to WWD, which reported that the government’s department for Culture, Media and Sport, an existing backer of the NewGen initiative,...