Topshop reveals future designers

Lucky winners Sally Hewett from Northumbria University and Rebecca Howarth from Manchester School of Art have been named as Topshop/Topman’s new designers as part of the Graduate Design Programme in partnership with the BFC colleges council.

The scheme aims to give two students the chance to design for Topshop and Topman on a 12 month paid internship. This highlights Topshop’s on-going support and backing for upcoming and new, fresh talent with them constantly selling new designers and also sponsoring the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN scheme, which showcases and promotes new designer businesses by offering them financial support and catwalk space. 

The Graduate Design Programme has been described by Mary Homer, Managing Director of Topshop like this: “A natural extension of our work with design talent in the UK; it allows us to support emerging and graduate designers. The winner will have the opportunity to develop as a designer and gain valuable first-hand experience of a business through their time at Topshop.” This is accompanied by Gordon Richardson, Design Director of TOPMAN, detailing how “Topman has been supporting emerging talent for over ten years and is excited to be helping a new generation of talented designers start their careers through this initiative”.

To be in with a chance of grasping this impressive opportunity, students had to create a mood board demonstrating their knowledge of the Topshop/Topman customer and awareness of the brand. Using this mood board students went on to create a 15 piece collection that went on to be judged by a committee of Topshop/Topman representatives who undertook the difficult task of selecting the winners.

Simon Ward, COO, British Fashion Council explained: “As sponsors of our emerging talent initiatives NEWGEN and NEWGEN MEN, we’re delighted to be partnering with TOPSHOP and TOPMAN on this new venture to extend further support to graduate level talent. The Graduate Design Programme offers students invaluable industry experience and we’re certain both winners will thrive from the experience.”

Topshop has also supported previous upcoming designers such as J.W Anderson, Richard Nicoll, Mary Katrantzou and Christopher Kane so it’s not hard to see why the Graduate Scheme is an attractive option for fashion graduates and continues to increase in popularity.

Talicia Ramsey
Photo: Courtesy of Topshop