Fashion Fringe: UK Hunt for a Fashion Star Designer
September 7, 2004 | Levent OZLER
Britain produces some of the world's top fashion designers - Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen among them - but many of the best fly off for Paris, New York or Milan as soon as their star has risen.
Fearing London may lose its place among the world's fashion capitals if its home-grown stars continue to nourish their talents and display their collections elsewhere, one fashion writer decided to take action.
"Fashion Fringe", the brainchild of writer Colin McDowell, is a talent contest loosely based on the "Pop Idol" format that aims to find Britain's next fashion star - and keep the winner at home with £100,000 (BD67,596) to help build a viable business.
The contest's American cousin, a reality TV competition to be hosted by legendary designer Tommy Hilfiger and tentatively titled "The Cut", will force contestants to live together, then dump one from the group each week.
But Fashion Fringe - which won't be televised - is forgoing the attendant reality TV razzmatazz to address more serious issues.
"For some time now I've been unhappy with the state of British fashion: it's been losing its impetus and one of the reasons is that so many big names have simply moved away," McDowell said.
"London's role has been to produce exciting young talent but a lot of that excitement has gone over to Europe or New York ...
more: fashionfringe.co.uk/ (235)
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