How to discover up and coming fashion designers

Fashion is an art, and the world of fashion is full of artists. People are always looking for ways to discover new talent in the world of fashion—visiting obscure boutiques, shopping at vintage stores, and even trolling thrift shops. People look for designers in every way possible, but there are a few routes that are more effective than others when it comes to discovering emerging fashion designers.

Discovering new designers

There are several ways to discover new, interesting fashion designers.

Search for them on social media. The platforms have become popular places for designers to showcase their work. You can find many of them on Instagram and Twitter, where they’ll post photos of their collections and advertise upcoming shows or sales.

Attend a fashion show. The best way to find out about a designer is by seeing their clothing in person. Attending a fashion show or exhibit of independent designers in your area is a great way to edge your way into the industry and build your network. You may even learn that some of the clothes displayed are available for purchase online.

In addition to being able to find cool new styles and pieces, there are many reasons why it is important to support local artists:

• It supports the local economy by generating income and providing jobs.
• It encourages creativity and innovation.
• Appreciation for diversity and uniqueness.
• It can prevent mindless consumerism.

Where can you attend local fashion shows?

Within the United Kingdom, there are a lot of independent fashion shows where budding designers can display their upcoming collections.

Indx Independent Fashion Exhibition. INDX Shows are committed to meeting the diverse requirements of independent retailers, showcasing inspirational brands in a professional and welcoming buying environment.

PURE London. Pure London is so much more than a fashion trade show. They bring together the brightest minds in the industry twice a year to showcase the best of the season’s must-have fashion collections, discover the latest trends, get exclusive business insight, and make all-important international connections. It’s an opportunity for brands and designers to meet with buyers that matter the most to their business, with a strong focus on sustainability.

New Designers. This exhibition is for emerging designers to showcase their work to trade and consumers.

Scoop. This exhibition is for contemporary womenswear designers, recognised by designers, fashion buyers and industry experts as one of the UK’s leading fashion trade shows.

Attending college fashion shows including Graduate Fashion Week is also the perfect place to scout new designers, gain inspiration and an array of innovative collections.

Design competitions

Design competitions are a great way to gain exposure, but they’re also a way for you as a designer to get funding, make connections and even see your designs made. For example, the annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition, winners receive $300,000 in funding—money that can help them grow their businesses.

The LVMH group has always been devoted to supporting the talent of tomorrow. In 2014, the Group reaffirmed this commitment with the creation of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers. The winner of the LVMH prize will receive a grant over £250,000 and personalized assistance in the development of his or her company from a specific team within the Group, over a period of twelve months. This assistance is available from all the areas of expertise which may interest a burgeoning fashion House, including production and distribution, image and communication, marketing, intellectual property, and so on.

For those looking for a more minimal investment in design competitions—and awards—there are plenty of other opportunities out there.

Fashion designer funding

The most important thing to do before you apply for funding is to have a good business plan. It’s not enough to simply say that you want to start a fashion line; you need real numbers that show how much money you’re going to be making and how much money it will take from there. The next most important thing is having a great team behind their designer’s project; after all, they’ll be helping design the clothes whilst also managing everything else needed around running an entire company – including marketing campaigns which help generate revenue stream within an organization by increasing awareness.

British Fashion Council has a host of funding options available including Vogue Designer Fund, GQ Fashion Fund, and the NEGWEN initiative that supports offers designers financial support, showcasing opportunities and mentoring to develop critical business skills to future proof their businesses.

If you have an interest in fashion or are a budding designer yourself, there are many ways you can build your network and broaden your expertise. Whether it’s by attending fashion exhibitions or applying for funding, there are lots of ways to give your brand a boost. And why not add ‘follow fashion blogs’ to your list to make sure you keep up to date with all the latest fashion news.