New Gen Picks: Katrantzou and Pilotto

The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced Friday the names of 19 fashion labels that will receive NewGen sponsorship, allowing them to show at London next catwalk season in February 2010.

Established in 1993, NewGen, supported by fast fashion retailer Topshop, is one of fashion’s most effective mechanisms for supporting emerging design talent by providing the financing and support needed to produce actual runway shows and professional presentations.

Previous recipients of the NewGen awards have included Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson, Boudicca, Giles Deacon, Jonathan Saunders and more recently Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Richard Nicoll and Erdem.

This year’s winners of catwalk sponsorship are a quartet composed of Mark Fast, Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchhoff and Peter Pilotto

The news caps a great week for Pilotto, who won the BFC’s Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards for Ready-to-Wear on Wednesday night. Austria-born Pilotto was also short listed for this year’s Swiss Textiles Award, central Europe’s most valuable fashion prize, though the eventual winner was Alexander Wang.

Greek born Mary Katrantzou is the queen of hyperrealist chic, the hot new name of London fashion, a Sophia Kokosalaki alumni, whose trompe oeil perfume bottles, stirrups, rings, belts and grommets give her fashion a cinematic élan.

“NewGen is an essential element of the British Fashion Council’s designer development and showcasing program. This season we have an incredible wave of original, innovative and talented emerging designers who will, without doubt, support London’s reputation as a creative capital,” said Caroline Rush, Joint Chief Executive of the BFC.

Another four designers garnered presentation sponsorships: Holly Fulton, Louise Gray, Maria Francesca Pepe and Sykes.

Exhibition sponsorship will also be provided to Atalanta Weller, Christopher Raeburn, Craig Lawrence, David Koma, Dominic Jones, Fannie Schiavoni, LP.BG, Michael Lewis, Michael Van der Ham and Natascha Stolle. NewGen has extensive showrooms in the East Wing of Somerset House, the nerve center of London Fashion Week.

“Our long standing commitment to the New Generation of British designers is stronger and more important than ever. With so many fledgling designers starting their careers and really setting the pace for innovation in the fashion world London Fashion Week’s energy over the past few seasons has proved the perfect antidote to these economically challenging times, enticing buyers and press the world over,” added Topshop’s Managing Director Mary Homer.

NewGen will also stage a joint show in February of two newcomers - Maria Francesca Pepe and Holly Fulton, who previously showed for two seasons as part of the avant-garde Fashion East collective. Holly Fulton’s graphic dresses will be seen in top-to-toe look accessorized with Fulton’s jewelry and bags.

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