The British Fashion Council Unveils This Year’s Emerging Talent Cohort as Part of Its Refocused Long-Term Support Strategy
The British Fashion Council has announced the recipients of BFC NEWGEN in partnership with Pull&Bear for 2026/27, continuing one of the industry’s longest-running initiatives dedicated to supporting emerging fashion talent. Established in 1993, the programme provides designers with financial support, mentorship and showcasing opportunities at London Fashion Week, helping them build globally recognised and commercially resilient businesses.
This year’s recipients are A LETTER, Charlie Constantinou, E.W.USIE, Francesca Lake, Gui Rosa, Johanna Parv, Karoline Vitto, Liza Keane, LUEDER, OCTI, Oscar Ouyang, Pauline Dujancourt, Petra Fagerström, Steve O Smith, The Ouze and Yaku. Francesca Lake, Gui Rosa and Petra Fagerström join the programme as new recipients this year.
The announcement comes as the BFC continues to implement its new strategy, BFC 2030: Access, Creativity, Growth, which refocuses its talent programmes toward sustained and long-term support. Under the revised structure, BFC NEWGEN in partnership with Pull&Bear will concentrate investment into a more focused group of designers, aiming to provide deeper mentorship, infrastructure and industry access beyond traditional visibility and runway exposure.
Recipients were selected for their creativity, distinct aesthetic and innovative approach across ready-to-wear and accessories categories. The judging panel was chaired by Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Chief Critic at Vogue Runway, alongside Laura Weir, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council. Panelists included representatives from Mulberry, Dover Street Market, Chanel, Sojo, 10 Magazine, Pull&Bear, the Onassis Foundation and Elle.
“BFC NEWGEN has long been a launchpad for some of the most internationally recognised names in British fashion, supporting emerging designers as they build creatively ambitious and commercially viable businesses,” said Laura Weir, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council. “BFC NEWGEN has evolved to provide stronger designer support and deepened investment at a pivotal stage of growth. We are proud to support this year’s cohort and look forward to seeing their collections presented during London Fashion Week in the BFC NEWGEN showspace this September.”
Sarah Mower MBE added, “Each of them have the calibre of creative individuality, energy and entrepreneurialism it takes to make London Fashion Week an exhilarating arena for encountering surprising ideas — and great clothes. The financial grants, business and legal advice which comes with the BFC NEWGEN programme makes the UK a place where new ways of doing business are constantly emerging and supported.”