BFC celebrates key NewGen anniversary with "landmark" exhibition

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Feb 15, 2023

NewGen is fast approaching 30. And to mark the talent identification scheme’s milestone, The British Fashion Council (BFC) announces ‘NewGen 30’, a year-long celebration culminating with a landmark five-month exhibition at the Design Museum in London from September to coincide with London Fashion Week.

Fittingly, the exhibition, ‘Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion’, is sponsored by Alexander McQueen, whose signature founder was among the first group of young designers in 1993 to benefit from the launch of NewGen, enabling him to showcase his collections at London Fashion Week.

Guest curated by Sarah Mower, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Design, and Museum Senior Curator, Rebecca Lewin, the exhibition will be open from 15 September until 11 February 2024. Tickets will go on sale in June.

BFC said it will be “one of the most comprehensive contemporary fashion exhibitions ever staged in the UK, acknowledging the work of 300 designers and featuring over 100 objects — from innovative and trailblazing garments to films, drawings and memorabilia. It aims to deconstruct the creative process and inspire the next generation of fashion designers”.

Through the support of multiple partners, the exhibition aims to raise funding for the BFC Foundation to “support the future growth and success of the British fashion industry, by focusing on education, grant-giving and business mentoring”. 

The next 12 months will be a celebration of the influence of the BFC NewGen community on the global fashion industry, “recognising London’s role in nurturing emerging talent and the next generation of visionary creatives”.  

Caroline Rush, BFC Chief Executive, said: “The impact that the [NewGen] initiative has had over the last three decades on homegrown British brands and the global fashion industry cannot be understated. We are grateful to McQueen for their support and look forward to recognising Lee Alexander McQueen alongside the 300-strong alumni of BFC NewGen recipients at the brilliant Design Museum this September.”

Sarah Burton, Creative Director, Alexander McQueen, added: “We have always been passionate about supporting creativity and encouraging new talent. The fact that Lee was the first recipient of this award makes this celebration even more significant to us.” 

Since its launch in 1993, NewGen has supported designers all at the beginning of their careers, including McQueen, Christopher Kane, Charles Jeffrey, Christopher Raeburn, Erdem, Henry Holland, Kim Jones, J.W. Anderson, Mary Katrantzou, Molly Goddard, Roksanda, Simone Rocha, Stuart Vevers, Priya Ahluwalia, Saul Nash, Grace Wales Boner, Bianca Saunders and many more.