MANILA, FEBRUARY 6, 2013 – Designers, international press and buyers will once again converge in London during the month of February to catch a first glimpse of designers’ new collections. Along with the 29-year-old London Fashion Week, the International Fashion Showcase, which was launched last year by the British Fashion Council (BFC), returns.
The International Fashion Showcase was launched to showcase fashion design in participating countries. And one of the Philippine representatives this year is international-known bags brand ARANAZ by Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Filipino bag designer and founder of the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA), who is also a second-time participant in the IFC.
The event will be a month-long showcase taking place in 27 embassies, displaying the work of over 110 international emerging designers.
Participating countries include Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Estonia, Jamaica, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Vietnam.
Each country has been asked to present a showcase of emerging designers whom they feel most represents the future of fashion in their region. A voting committee chaired by Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Contributing Editor to US Vogue, will award the winning country on Sunday, February 17 at the official BFC catwalk venue in Somerset House during London Fashion Week.
A map indicating the 27 showcases around London along with a guide and ‘passport’ stamped at each venue, will allow visitors to follow the International Fashion Showcase around the capital. These can be downloaded from the British Council www.backoftheenvelope.britishcouncil.org and the British Fashion Council www.britishfashioncouncil.com/internationalfashionshowcase website.
Commenting on the International Fashion Showcase, Sarah Mowe, BFC ambassador for Emerging Talent and contributing editor of Vogue US, said, “The shows offer a collective welcome to everyone with an interest in fashion, whether professional or not. London has developed its reputation as a supporter of the future of fashion by being open to ideas and innovation from everywhere – as a city we are multi-cultural, our art colleges are a magnet for international students and we are always thrilled to be able to get the first glimpse of the new.”
Last year’s inaugural International Fashion Showcase took place in embassies and cultural institutes London-wide. Developed to celebrate the year of the Olympics and Paralympics, it formed part of the Fashion 2012 cultural programme; honouring its values of international respect, excellence, equality and friendship.
The International Fashion Showcase is the first official collaboration between the British Council and the BFC.
