Online marketplace eBay has today announced a deal with the British Fashion Council (BFC) to sponsor its Fashion Forward initiative.
Extension of the fashion arm of eBay‘s business will lend support to emerging new talent in the industry to coincide with S/S 2013 shows at London Fashion Week (LFW) in September.
High profile names on this year‘s Fashion Forward designers list including six-time Newgen sponsorship winner Mary Katzantrou, pattern and colour guru Louise Gray, Henry Holland and James Long, known for his signature knits and embroidered pieces.
Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC, believes that eBay‘s position in the online fashion industry makes it a perfect supporter of developing talent.
She commented: “Fashion Forward is one of the British Fashion Council‘s talent support initiatives; designed to help emerging British designers show and develop their businesses here in London.
“In its sixth year it has grown to encompass both womenswear and menswear designers and now supports seven designers each year; making this the perfect time to announce eBay as its new sponsor.
“eBay‘s sales statistics are overwhelming and we hope they will help to bring opportunities to the designers they support.”
eBay Fashion is planning events to mark the partnership and will be introducing its first ever online auction with the BFC. Entitled ‘Born to Shop‘, it is part of charity Save the Children‘s fashion and lifestyle initiative which operates under the wider ‘No Child Born to Die‘ campaign banner.
Melanie Smallwood, Head of eBay fashion brands, who will sit on the panel to decide the next round of designers supported by the programme, said: “eBay is more than just an auction house, it‘s a shopping destination like no other.
“You‘ll find high street brands selling direct alongside smaller boutiques and international businesses as well as consumer sellers.
“eBay Fashion unites style seekers and enables you to shop anytime and anywhere.
Smallwood concluded: “Partnering with the British Fashion Council provides an opportunity to show our support to emerging British fashion talent, helping them to develop the long-term success of their businesses.”
