Christopher Kane is the winner of this year’s BFC / Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, the British Fashion Council announced. The £200,000 cash award is a boost to the brand’s business development intended to achieve the designer’s objectives to become a global brand over the next twelve months.
Christopher Kane was chosen for this award based on a his business plan and presentation at interview to the judging panel. The presentation showed both Christopher and Tammy Kane’s determination to meet an ambitious plan, through appointments and brand development chances.
Eight designers were shortlisted by a panel of representatives of Fund sponsors. All of those shortlisted were then invited to present their collections and future plans to the judging panel of Fund sponsor representatives and industry experts chaired by Alexandra Shulman, Editor of British Vogue. All of those shortlisted will have access to support from the mentoring panel either directly or through Marigay McKee, Harrods Director of Fashion and Beauty who will chair the mentoring panel.
The Christopher Kane label was set up in 2006 and is jointly owned by Christopher and his sister and collaborator Tammy. Christopher trained at Central Saint Martins and won ‘New Designer of the Year’ at the British Fashion Awards in 2007. He also designs for Versus and his own name label is stocked in stores around the world including Barneys, Jeffreys, Browns, Liberty, Dover Street Market, Harvey Nichols, Net-a-Porter, Joyce, Maria Luisa, Printemps, and Corso Como.
The Fund was launched by British Fashion Council Chairman Harold Tillman in September 2008. Vogue, headline sponsor, whose March issue is on sale early February will showcase the talents of all eight finalists.