London's up-and-coming designers have a new fairy godfather in the shape of John Galliano, it has been announced today.
The London-born designer will succeed Donatella Versace in the two-year honorary chairmanship of the Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden scheme, which was founded by eminent fashion journalist Colin McDowell in 2004 as a means to support and promote emerging designers in the capital.
An integral part of the Fashion Fringe process is supporting designers in establishing a viable business model while not compromising their creative vision. And it's one that's proven to work; labels that have come to prominence via Fashion Fringe include Erdem, Basso & Brooke, Sinha-Stanic, William Tempest and last year's winner, JENA.THEO.
Galliano, who produces 17 collections a year as creative director of Christian Dior as well as his own label, knows exactly what he's looking for in a winner: a "rebel genius", much like himself.
"I will look for someone who reminds me of me when I was starting out - someone original, unique, who has their own style and handwriting and isn't afraid to try something new," he said as the news of his appointment broke. "Fashion sometimes gets scared and plays it too safe, but I want to push boundaries. When I started, all I wanted to do was create - I didn't have a clue about business, but it is so important to have good foundations in both. So many talented designers have been lost or swallowed up by corporate machines because they didn't know how to handle the business side. I learned the hard way."
Needless to say, McDowell is also thrilled with his signing. "Thinking about recent events has made me re-examine what the spirit of London fashion really is - and that is bold, exciting fashion that breaks through the barriers and moves fashion. And, of course, nobody does it with such imagination and fabulous originality as John Galliano," he commented. "This is the searching, radical spirit we are planning to uncover and bring back to London fashion through its young designers."
Think you've got what it takes to impress the best in the business? Fashion Fringe 2010 is inviting applications from now until 30 April. Log onto fashionfringe.co.uk for more details.
Picture: John Galliano on the Christian Dior autumn/winter 2010 catwalk in Paris last week.
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