Burberry creative director Christopher Bailey will chair Britain’s Fashion Fringe initiative for young designers, WWD reports. His two year-long role will see him choose the competition’s three annual finalists and work with them as a mentor. He’ll also pick the contest’s winner, after a fashion show that will take place during each London Fashion Week in September. Prizes for each year’s winner include two more years of mentoring, financial support and business advice, and a studio space in Central London.
Bailey remarked that he’s “very proud to be partnering with [Fashion Fringe] to unearth the next generation of exciting designers.” Colin McDowell, renowned fashion writer and Fashion Fringe’s founder, said of the appointment, “I believe that Christopher and Burberry will offer great inspiration to our candidates in Fashion Fringe for the next two years whilst encouraging them to boldly step out and create their own vision and originality.” Previous Fringe chairs include Tom Ford and John Galliano.
