May 14, 2020|

JD Supports British Designer Businesses through BFC Foundation

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by Ella Kidron

On May 13th, the British Fashion Council (BFC) announced the first round of recipients of the BFC Foundation Fashion Fund, supporting creative fashion businesses and individuals to survive the COVID-19 crisis. The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by JD.com is among the talent support grants being pooled together to support this initiative. Other grants include the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, BFC Fashion Trust and BFC NEWGEN.

Through the fund, financial support will be given to 37 British designer businesses, with grants taken from the £1,000,000 emergency fund, allocated to viable businesses depending on their urgency and capability to come through and thrive post crisis. A portion of the funds has also been allocated to students, underpinning the future generation of creative talent.

JD participated in the judging for the first round of recipients of the “BFC Foundation Fashion Fund for the Covid Crisis” last week. The fund has received over 220 applications to date. Fund recipients will receive a maximum of £50,000 and will also be given access to BFC business support and mentoring from the BFC’s Fashion Business Network.

Kevin Jiang, president of international business at JD Fashion and Lifestyle, said: “At this critical point in time for the industry, globally, help must come from all directions. We feel privileged to be a part of this important initiative from the BFC to help hardworking designers as they weather the crisis through JD’s support of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund.”

JD has a long history of partnership with the BFC. Most recently, in 2018, JD announced a sponsorship of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund. The Designer Menswear Fund was launched by the British Fashion Council (BFC) and leading men’s magazine British GQ in 2013 to support talented British-based menswear designers with commercial growth in the transition from an emerging creative business to a global fashion brand.

 

(ella@jd.com)

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