In London, New Talents Take the Spotlight

London is not short on young designer initiatives, and as fashion week approaches, the city begins to highlight its top up-and-comers. Today, the London-based Centre for Fashion Enterprise’s New Fashion Ventures program has awarded three ambitious new labels with sponsorship: Teatum Jones (launched by designers Catherine Teatum and Rob Jones in 2010), Fyodor Golan (designed by Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman and also launched in 2010) and Marques’ Almeida, which, designed by Central Saint Martins alums Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida, was launched in 2011 (an image from their Spring ’13 collection is pictured left). Having shown under Fashion East for their first two seasons, Marques’ Almedia—best known for its frayed, grunge-inspired denim looks—has also earned coveted NEWGEN sponsorship for the past two seasons. Founded in 2003, the Center for Fashion Enterprise has helped jumpstart the careers of designers like Mary Katrantzou, Peter Pilotto, and Erdem Moralioglu—that’s to say, the brands they champion have a pretty good track record. This season, the program will provide its chosen talents with business and PR support, as well as a studio space for the next two. Thus far, the scheme has helped over 200 emerging talents and awarded about $7.8 million in funding. Keep an eye out for CFE’s Fall ’13 picks, which will show at London Fashion Week this February.