The Bicester Collection has partnered with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) since the launch of the Sustainable Fashion Awards six years ago, offering The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers at this September's ceremony. And the designers in the running have been announced.
This honour not only recognises the very best up-and-coming, ecologically-minded fashion talent, but also gives the winner crucial support at the collection's outposts across the world. All the finalists will receive access to mentorship programmes that will help the chosen designer grow their brand, as well as the opportunity for exposure through participation in the next 'The Creative Spot Pop-up' – a boutique that offers emerging designers the opportunity to sell their work amongst the The Bicester Collection’s curated portfolio of the world’s most renowned fashion and lifestyle brands free of charge.
However, there can only be one winner – and that designer will also have the opportunity to showcase their work during Milan Fashion Week in 2024, as part of the Designers for the Planet exhibition at Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana’s Fashion Hub.
There are three brands in the running for the winning spot. Firstly, Milan-based SO-LE STUDIO, which creates unique jewellery using upcycled leather and brass leftovers from Italian luxury brands and manufacturers. The brand's commitment to a circular economy and sustainability is evident in their use of leftover materials across all their collections with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of their products. This sustainable ethos extends throughout the company, from material sourcing to the materials used for its Milan-based flagship store, with the intent to drive positive change in the industry, reflecting a strong philosophy that resonates with conscious-minded clients.
Secondly, British label Ahluwalia, which, since its launch in 2018, has emerged as an industry frontrunner in finding sustainable solutions for the betterment of both people and planet. By utilising vintage, recycled, upcycled, and sustainable fabrics and garments, Ahluwalia creates pieces led by design but always made responsibly. The label seamlessly blends elements from founder Priya Ahluwalia’s (pictured above) dual Indian-Nigerian background with her London roots. Through her brand, Priya advocates for the celebration of her heritage’s beauty and diversity through thoughtful design, while also promoting the crucial values of equality, cultural diversity, and sustainability.
Finally, Made For A Woman. Founded in 2019 by Eileen Akbaraly, a young Italian-Indian designer who grew up in Madagascar, this brand is an innovative social entrepreneurship project empowering women from vulnerable backgrounds and promoting female craftsmanship in Madagascar – the brand employs over 350 local artisans (92% of whom are women), providing them with living wages and empowering opportunities including free healthcare, mental health support, social services, financial literacy, capacity building, and education for them and their families. This is combined with a strong focus on corporate social responsibility, slow fashion, and locally sourced, certified raw materials, creating a scalable business model for other social entrepreneurship projects in developing countries.
"We are honoured, together with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, to have written the first chapter of the Sustainable Fashion Awards," says Desirée Bollier, Chair and Global Chief Merchant for Value Retail Management. "We are proud to celebrate the next step of this journey, empowering the talent of tomorrow with The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers. All three finalists are incredibly exciting new voices in fashion, and their talent and convictions speak to a promising future for our industry and our planet."
All three will be honoured at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023, set to be held on 24th September at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala at the close of Milan Fashion Week, with the ultimate winner revealed on the evening.
> Find out more at cameramoda.it
