BFC launches China partnerships strategy in Shanghai with David Beckham

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Sep 26, 2018

The British Fashion Council (BFC) launched the organisation’s China Partnerships Strategy in Shanghai this week with Ambassadorial President David Beckham and a number of BFC luminaries on hand to guarantee maximum publicity for the initiative.

At a special lunch for the event, £500,000 worth of deals were confirmed including JD.com and Ruyi’s co-sponsorship of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund, JD.com’s support for the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and support from Britain’s Department of International Trade.  

BFC Chair Stephanie Phair said China "has always been a key market for British designers, from emerging businesses to established brands [and] there is a growing appetite for British fashion in China."

In addition to deals done, the BFC said it continues to explore the next stage of the “innovative partnership” with VIP.com and the long-term partnership with Fung Retailing Group.

The BFC said its development of its China Fashion Business Network is “a key pillar of development for the next 12 months,” and it said many attendees at the lunch pledged their support “to assist the BFC [in creating] a network of credible partners across investment, licensing, manufacturing, property, communications and retail in China.”

Beckham added: “Promoting the British fashion industry in China is an important part of my new role with the British Fashion Council. I hope that through events like today we are able to shine a light on the incredible creative talent we have in the UK and promote that talent on a global scale. The opportunity in China for connecting creatively and driving investment into British fashion is huge. Today we are able to show real commitment from Chinese businesses to future fashion leaders in the UK and in parallel, share our experience, knowledge and platforms with emerging Chinese designers.”

BFC Menswear Chair Dylan Jones was also there and said that the organisation has been able to reinstate the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund thanks to the co-sponsorship of JD.com and Ruyi, “who have committed to two years of support for our brilliant emerging menswear designers in the UK.”

The BFC’s China Partnerships Strategy is focused on three key areas and solidifies the organisation’s commitment to making access to the Chinese market easier for British designer businesses. It includes support for emerging talent with mentoring on the Chinese market; partnerships for Fashion Weeks, “stimulating demand through content and access, in relevant cases supplying that demand through retail partnerships in the UK and China”; and network development of investors, creatives, influencers, media, retailers and high-net worth individuals to partner with British designer businesses on local growth strategies.