Grace Wales Bonner Wins 2023 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund

Grace Wales Bonner, the innovative force behind the WALES BONNER brand, ascended to victory at the 2023 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund. The esteemed event acknowledged her unparalleled talent, subsequently providing her with a year-long business mentoring programme, Sheridans’ pro-bono legal services, and a substantial cash prize of £100,000. Consequently, her win has put her firmly on the fashion industry’s map.

Subsequently, Adam Baidawi from British GQ, who holds a key position in Editorial Content and serves as Deputy Global Editorial Director, showered high praises on Wales Bonner. He lauded her unique and invigorating vision, which is indeed a game-changer in the luxury fashion landscape. Moreover, he applauded her artistic ambition, global influence, and collaborative spirit, demonstrating that her impact extends far beyond design alone.

Wales Bonner’s Heartfelt Acknowledgment

Grace Wells Bonner has expressed great gratitude for winning the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund. She highlighted how the award greatly supports her and her team’s creative work. Wells Bonner thanked all of his supporters and colleagues for the value of such support from independent companies. Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British fashion Council, was delighted to announce the Wells Bonner win. Rush praised the designer for her brand’s ability to encourage cultural dialogue and inspire future generations. Wells Bonner’s cross-disciplinary collaborations and the commercial success of its brand speak volumes about its appeal to consumers.

Opportunities for Shortlisted Designers

The 2023 contest featured amazing contestants like AGR, Bianca Saunders, Blue Burnham and Paria /Farzaneh. Despite not reaching the top spot, shortlisted talent including AGR, Bianca Saunders, Bleue Burnham, and pariah /FARZANEH will gain valuable resources such as mentorship, industry expertise, and Sheridans’ pro-bono law work from the BFC’s Designer Initiatives team A prestigious panel led by Caroline Rush CBE and Adam Baidawi examined the competition. Boasting industry veterans such as Damien Paul, Laurent Melekez, Leah Abbott, Murray Clark, Samuel Ross and Tan France, the team used their breadth of knowledge and experience to guide the decision-making process

With her win, Grace Wales Bonner now belongs to the illustrious list of previous winners. Nicholas Daley (2022), Ahluwalia (2021), A-COLD-WALL* (2019), Craig Green (2016), E Tautz (2015), and Christopher Shannon (2014) are among the designers who have set a high bar in the menswear fashion industry.

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