British Fashion Council partners with HSBC

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Oct 9, 2017

The British Fashion Council is boosting its designer support programme, the BFC Fashion Trust, with the announcement of a new partner: the HSBC.

As one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations, HSBC will provide international expertise and mentoring to recipients of the initiative, which aims to help selected designers with guidance and financial support.

The philanthropic programme is developed in partnership with co-chairs Tania Fares and Sian Westerman along with the BFC and the BFC Fashion Trust advisory committee. As part of the partnership, HSBC’s Daniel Howlett, Head of Large Corporates, UK, and Regional Head of Client Coverage, Europe will join the Fashion Trust advisory board.

Tania Fares and Sian Westerman said the new partnership with the bank is a “great opportunity” for the designers supported by the BFC Fashion Trust, as it will provide them with a unique platform to be mentored by a global financial leader.

“We are convinced that HSBC’s involvement will be fantastic for the designers and their businesses and are incredibly proud to be working with them,” they said.

Since its inception in 2011, the charitable initiative has awarded over £1.6m to 39 designers, helping them develop different aspects of their businesses including websites, e-commerce platforms and bricks & mortar stores.

This year, eleven designers have been chosen for the programme, including Edeline Lee, Eudon Choi, Fyodor Golan, Georgia Hardinge, Huishan Zhang, Isa Arfen, Marques’Almeida, Osman, Rejina Pyo, Sharon Wauchob and Teatum Jones.

The recipients were awarded a total of £450,000, the largest allocation of grants by the trust to date.