These awards are the primary fundraiser for the BFC Foundationpublished at 20:29 GMT
Hannah Karpel
Live reporter
Tonight is all about raising funds for the British Fashion
Foundation (BFC) to support talent through scholarships and initiatives in the
UK.
One designer who’s received support from the foundation is
St Albans-born Yaku Stapleton, who describes his work as “transforming
conceptual fantasy into wearable reality”, featuring heat-textured tech wear
made from upcycled nylon jackets and puffers filled with recycled bedding.
“It has been quite life-changing, to be honest,” he
says of the BFC’s support. “I’m sure my life would be very different if I
didn’t get that opportunity.”
The foundation covered his master’s degree, and after
graduating he was selected as part of NewGen – helping him to show at Fashion
Week, cover production costs, and benefit from mentorship and guidance.
“Getting the scholarship made a huge difference in my
self-belief,” he says.“It gives people the opportunity to dream big and have
hope.”
Image source, Agathe Moubembe/ Yaku StapletonImage caption,
Some of Stapleton’s designs, as showcased in September
