Over the past year I like to think that I’ve plunged head first into the world of Fashion. During the summer I relocated to Paris to work at Baron Baronne, since then I’ve run around like a madwoman interning at Alexander McQueen, made my press debut at London Fashion Week, worked as an assistant to London stylist, Iman Pasha and even taken a short course in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins. These experiences have been a baptism of fire into the Fashion industry and I’ve certainly learnt a few things. For instance, if you want to have any chance of sartorial success you have to be prepared to sacrifice sleep and a social life as well as being able to endure a life time of stiletto-induced blisters. But what the past year has made me realise most of all is this: being a fashion designer is a hard, endless and often thankless task. Luckily for me I don’t have the slightest smidgeon of design talent but for those who do, THANK GOD for Britsh Fashion Council initiatives such as NEWGEN that enable talented young designers to get their work out of their bedrooms and down the Fashion Week runway.

Since it was founded by the British Fashion Council in 1993 NEWGEN has been responsible for helping to launch the careers of some of the biggest names in fashion. Previous winners have included internationally renowned designers such as Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, Giles Deacon and Erdem.

Earlier today the BFC announced the lucky few they have selected for Autumn/Winter 2011. And the winners of Catwalk sponsorship are…

David Koma

David Koma S/S 2011

Like most of the fashion world, I fell head-over-heels in love with David’s incredible sculptural minidresses the second I laid eyes on then. I was lucky enough to meet and interview David following his fantastic show last season at LFW and since then have got to know the talented designer a little. After Christmas I will be interning with David on a part-time basis in the run up to February Fashion Week. With fans including the formidable editor of French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld, David’s star is clearly on the rise. The very thought of being within a close proximity of his to-die-for dresses sends me into spasms of excitement.

Holly Fulton

Holly Fulton S/S 2011

Over the past few seasons, Holly’s trademark graphic prints and detailed embellishment have made her womenswear and jewellery collections must-have’s among style setters all over the world. For Spring/Summer 2011 the designer gave her signature Deco style an ethnic-inspired makeover and the fashion world waits with baited breath to see what she’s got planned for next season.

Louise Gray

Louise Gray S/S 2011

Louise Gray’s first solo catwalk show gathered rave reviews at London Fashion Week this September. The talented young designer showed with the innovative Fashion East project for three seasons straight after graduating from Central Saint Martins and is now clearly ready to go it alone. Louise has crafted an aesthetic based on brightly hued, boldly textured garments whose shapes are simple and where movement and embellishment take center stage. I get the distinct feeling that the best is still to come from this talented young designer.

Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou S/S 2011

Mary Katrantzou has been the name on everybody’s lips this season. Hailed as the ‘Princess of Prints’, Mary’s signature style has won her a legion of fans throughout the fashion world. I have been personally obsessed with her designs since LFW where I was lucky enough to meet and interview the lovely Mary herself. Since launching her eponymous brand Mary’s designs have featured in every worthwhile fashion publication from Vogue to I.D Magazine and internationally stocked by top boutiques including Joyce in Paris and Browns in London. Her first stand-alone show during LFW this September fast became one of the hottest tickets in town, so if you hope to get I seat at Mary’s February show I’d recommend that you start queueing now!

Michael Van der Ham

Michael Van der Ham S/S 2011

For Autumn/Winter 2011 Michael Van der Ham made his long-awaited solo debut. The designer had shown with Fashion East for the previous two seasons and breaking out on your own is no easy undertaking. However, Michael certainly rose to the challenge. The designer’s trademark patchwork dresses have been a smash hit amongst the fashion elite and this season he offered up the most sophisticated collection to date. With their rich texture play and modern cuts Michaels dresses manage to be feminine yet cool, elegant yet edgy. His pieces are fast becoming some of the most coveted around and I for one can hardly wait to see what treats Michael Van der Ham has in store for Autumn/Winter 2011. The BFC has also chosen a fantastic array of other up-and-coming designers to put on presentations, fashion films or display their collections as part of the NEWGEN exhibition at Somerset House. For full details on all the bright young things receiving NEWGEN sponsorship for Autumn/Winter 2011 check out the British Fashion Council website. I don’t know about you, but after writing this I wouldn’t mind fast forwarding to February right now! Two and a half months to go until London Fashion Week, the countdown begins…

Love Ella. X