British Fashion Council Foundation

The British Fashion Council Foundation, a registered charity (1185152) established in 2019 as the philanthropic arm of the British Fashion Council, drives the future growth and global success of the UK fashion industry through education, grants, and business mentoring for emerging and established talent. Its mission emphasizes fostering creativity, innovation, inclusivity, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and merit, addressing competitive challenges for British SMEs by nurturing diverse talent pipelines, promoting responsible practices, and building sector resilience—exemplified by initiatives like the Covid-era Foundation Fashion Fund. Distinctively positioned as the UK's leading industry-specific philanthropy vehicle, it leverages convening power via London Fashion Week, mentoring, and networks to amplify impact, having disbursed over £4m to nearly 100 designers and 80 students since inception.

It funds targeted programmes including BFC NEWGEN for emerging designers, BFC/Vogue and BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Funds for mid-career commercial growth, BFC Fashion Trust for established labels' business development, and annual scholarships for fashion students. Support covers project funding, production grants, capacity building (mentoring, training), and occasional emergency aid, prioritizing UK-based designer-led brands, micro/SMEs, and students demonstrating creative potential, business acumen, diversity commitment, and environmental responsibility—recent recipients include Chopova Lowena, Wales Bonner, and Roksanda.

Eligibility is restricted to UK-resident individuals, businesses, or students in the fashion sector, with a focus on early- to mid-stage SMEs (trading <3 years preferred); unsolicited applications are not accepted. Grants range from £5,000–£100,000 (typically £20,000–£50,000 for businesses, £5,000–£30,000 for scholarships), applied via online forms during annual rounds—next deadline 9 January 2026 for LFW-related programmes, with others January–March. It excludes core running costs (unless project-linked), non-UK entities, large corporations, or non-fashion causes, standing out for its authoritative sector expertise and measurable contributions to diversity, sustainability, and global reputation.