The Fashion Awards are the primary fundraiser for the BFC Foundation, formed in 2019, the BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 1185152) supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on education, grant-giving, and business mentoring. Creating pathways to support British fashion talent is the core mission of the British Fashion Council (BFC). There is a need to continue and grow this support, increase the diversity of the talent pool and support businesses that are leading the way in terms of environmental and community impact.

In the financial year 2021/2022, the BFC remitted over £1.3m in funds to designers and scholars. £932,500 was paid by the BFC Foundation as part of the BFC’s grant giving initiatives including scholarships and talent support schemes BFC NEWGEN, BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and BFC Fashion Trust; over £400,000 was paid to designers through brand partnership collaborations secured by the BFC.

In its first three years, the BFC Foundation received total donations in excess of £8m*. This year the charity is able to support 35 designers and a number of students through financial support grants and mentoring.

Co-chaired by philanthropists and investors Narmina Marandi and Tania Fares, the BFC Foundation aims to raise funds to maintain and grow its grant giving programmes with the support of an influential international Patronage Programme. Find here a full list of the Advisory Committee and Founder Patrons. The Trustees of the Foundation are Stephanie Phair, Chairman, Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Laura Strain, Chief Operating Officer of the British Fashion Council and Pam Batty, previously Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Burberry. The BFC Foundation is solely reliant on the generosity of individuals, foundations, and companies and is funded through charitable donations including those received from BFC Patrons and Partners.
 
*This includes £2.9m of donations that were transferred by the BFC’s legacy charities, BFCVDFF Ltd and the BFC Education Foundation.