Today, the British Fashion Council (BFC) announces the launch of The BFC Changemakers Prize in Partnership with Swarovski, a new project which aims to discover and celebrate individuals within the fashion industry; the unsung stars who go above and beyond, making outstanding contributions and striving for positive change.
The 2021 BFC Changemakers Prize in Partnership with Swarovski is open to anyone working in the fashion industry—initially in the UK—and focuses on celebrating individuals, and championing inclusivity and innovative thinking. Entrants will be nominated by colleagues, peers, businesses and employers in recognition of outstanding work that aligns with one of the three pillars of the BFC’s Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF): Environment, People or Craftsmanship and Community. Nominations open today and more information on criteria and entry forms can be found here.
Launched in 2020, the IPF helps the British fashion industry to be more resilient and circular through global collaboration and local action. As a brand and partner for the BFC Changemakers Prize, Swarovski is committed to championing individuals in the creative industries who create impact and recognises the importance of celebrating the fashion industry’s hidden heroes; those with the unique ability to ignite dreams, create positive change and inspire others on their journey.
A panel of judges made up of a number of inspiring, high-profile individuals from the fashion and creative industries will select nine finalists and then three winners; one representing each of the IPF pillars. The Judging Committee is led by BFC Chief Executive Caroline Rush and Swarovski Creative Director Giovanna Engelbert and includes Edward Enninful, Editor-In-Chief, British Vogue & European Editorial Director, Vogue; Farrah Storr, Editor-In-Chief, ELLE UK; Ib Kamara, Editor-In-Chief, Dazed, Jo Ellison, Editor, How to Spend It & Deputy Editor, FT Weekend; Lily Cole, Model & Activist; Munroe Bergdorf, Model & Activist, and Tan France, Fashion Television Personality.
The three winners will be positioned as future industry trailblazers, will receive a mentorship package that offers support to continue their good work within the industry and a cash prize.
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive BFC said: “The BFC Changemakers Prize in Partnership with Swarovski is the largest new BFC prize launched in the last five years. We are thrilled to work alongside our long-term partner Swarovski on this project to build up the Institute of Positive Fashion’s pillars and spotlight the work of fashion’s unsung heroes. We often talk about the 890,000 people our industry employs and I am thrilled to discover some of their stories and hear their achievements. From the shop floor and the studios, to the manufacturers and head offices, we are searching across the country for anyone, regardless of their job title, to find out who has contributed through their work in creating an industry which we are all so proud to be a part of.”
Giovanna Engelbert, Creative Director Swarovski said: “On behalf of Swarovski, I am honored to join forces with our long-term partner, the British Fashion Council, to celebrate those in this industry who live and breathe the Institute of Positive Fashion’s pillars and commitment to sparking change. Through the BFC Changemakers Prize, we have the great pleasure of discovering individuals across every facet of the fashion community with a hunger to create a more inclusive, sustainable and impactful world for us all.”
The BFC Changemakers Programme is open to all 890,000 people working in the fashion industry, which stands for 2.6% of UK employment. From textiles and manufacturing to merchandising and retail, these are the people who are fundamental to igniting positive change in the fashion industry and who can inspire a nationwide call to action.
Nominations will close on Tuesday 11th May with the nine finalists announced in May and the three ultimate winners in July.
For BFC press enquiries please contact
Charlotte Berghman, Communications Executive, British Fashion Council charlotte.berghman@britishfashioncouncil.com
To get involved in BFC Changemakers Prize in partnership with Swarovski please contact
Natalie Potter, Project Manager, British Fashion Council
natalie.potter@britishfashioncouncil.com
About Institute of Positive Fashion
The Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF) helps the British Fashion Industry lead in the goal to be more resilient and circular through global collaboration and local action.
Leveraging global expertise and resources we will adopt standards, develop and establish frameworks, to reset and create a new blueprint for the industry. Through identifying common challenges we will call for collective action and investment in innovation to make a difference. We want to bring our industry in tune with the needs of the planet by taking an holistic approach across environment, people, community & craftsmanship.
Established by the British Fashion Council, led by a steering committee of industry experts, supported by advisory groups comprising industry, government and academia.
The British Fashion Council thanks the steering committee for their time and expertise in the ongoing development of the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF). The role of the steering committee is to share and identify both individual and institutional expertise to inform strategy and participate in collective action. The IPF aims to avoid duplication, highlighting resources that are already available, focusing on disseminating information, identifying gaps of information required and bringing together stakeholders to assess and address collective challenges and collaborate on action where required.
The steering committee have a common goal in that the industry must change, challenges must be addressed, and that change will only happen when the industry unites to take action.
For more information please visit instituteofpositivefashion.com
About British Fashion Council
The British Fashion Council (BFC) is a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1983 with the role to strengthen British fashion in the global economy as a leader in responsible, creative businesses. It does this through championing diversity and building and inviting the industry to actively participate in a network to accelerate a successful circular fashion economy. The BFC promotes British fashion internationally and does so through fashion weeks, exhibitions and showcasing events. The BFC helps British designer businesses develop their profile and business globally and supports fashion talent beginning at college level, extending to talent identification, business support and showcasing schemes. The BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 11852152) was created in 2019 for charitable purposes and grant giving; attracting, developing and retaining talent through education and business mentoring. The BFC Foundation offers support to designers through four talent identification and business support schemes: BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund, NEWGEN in partnership with TikTok and the BFC Fashion Trust. With the support of the BFC Colleges Council, the BFC Foundation offers BA and MA scholarships to students, as well as links with industry through design competitions and Graduate Preview Day. In 2020, the BFC launched the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF), with the aim to help the British fashion industry lead in the goal to be more resilient and circular through global collaboration and local action.
The BFC showcasing initiatives and events include London Fashion Week Presented by Clearpay taking place every February, June and September; LONDON show ROOMs and the annual celebration of creativity and innovation in the fashion industry: The Fashion Awards.
For more information please visit: britishfashioncouncil.co.uk & londonfashionweek.co.uk
About Swarovski
The New Swarovski is a Wonderlab where magic and science meet. Swarovski unifies all parts of its organization under one spellbinding idea and brings forward a wondrous new world of crystal craftsmanship. Founded in 1895 in Austria, the company designs, manufactures and sells the world’s highest quality crystal, genuine gemstones, Swarovski Created DiamondsTM and zirconia, jewelry and accessories, as well as crystal objects and home accessories. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasives), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group.
A responsible relationship with people and the planet has always been an integral part of Swarovski’s heritage. This manifests today in the company’s well-established sustainability agenda with youth-focused education programs and foundations to promote human empowerment and conserve natural resources to achieve positive social impact.