Fashion Fringe 2008 Finalist Announced

Daniel Saynt, Editor-In-Chief May 19 at 9:05 | Comments | TWEET THIS

“I was looking for sense of originality and innovation,” said Donatella Versace, who had arrived in London’s Covent Garden Thursday afternoon to select the finalists for Fashion Fringe, the annual competition that aims to discover and support young U.K.-based design talent.

The finalists for the 2008 edition of Fashion Fringe are in. Go By a Secret Path (designed by Eun Jeong), LF Markey, Sarah Easom, and William Tempest were chosen by a high profile judging panel chaired by Versace. The four finalists will now go on to prepare a full collection to showcase during the upcoming London Fashion Week in September as a collective show, at which time one overall winner will be announced. “I was very excited to be here today as I saw a lot of talent,” said Versace. “Unfortunately, we had to choose four, but I feel that they have a great future ahead of them.”

Chosen from the 303 initial applicants, the finalists had a day to prove their technical abilities at London College of Fashion and via an interview with the judging panel at Fashion Fringe’s new home in Covent Garden. Over the next few months, the four will prepare their final collection at the London College of Fashion as well as receiving technical support and mentoring from a host of industry insiders including the judges to ensure that they have a broad and complete view of the fashion industry and know the truth about running a business. The winner(s) will receive £100,000, or about $200,000, in funding for their next collection which will show at the following London Fashion Week in February.

“I think in the U.K. there is a sense of risk-taking in young designers,” said Versace. “Their eccentricity and fearlessness in trying new things is something to be celebrated and encouraged
Source WWD & Fashion Week Daily