Manchester Talent: Bright Young Things 2013

Hey kittens, here’s another one to add to my Manchester Talent series. As a Manc blogger, y’all know I love to celebrate the finest fashion talent of our fair city (enough f-f-f-f’s in there for ya?) and so it’s only fair (there’s another f-word) that I share with you this fab (fff) Mancunian link with one of my favourite stores.

Y’all know I love a good department store – heck, I’ve written about my love of high end designers at Harvey Nichols and Selfridges so many times, so it was amazing news to hear about this opportunity that one of my top fashion haunts is offering to aspiring designers. Selfridges’ have just unveiled their class of 2013 for their aspiring designer’s academy, Bright Young Things.

Right, so what is Bright Young Things? Selfridges’ first launched this scheme in January 2011, with the intention to help out up-and-coming fashion designers. After a January 2012 follow-up showcase, both editions featured emerging creatives including womenswear designers Alex Noble, and Simone Rocha, and menswear designers Martine Rose, and Matthew Miller. Heard of any of those? I know I have, especially Simone Rocha! It’s an idea based on providing a powerful platform for all the participating creators, and I’m delighted to announce that three of Selfridges most exciting young design talents studied in Manchester.

This year, the  Bright Young Things project has been running in Selfridges for the third time, and has just ended this week. Since September, Selfridges have been showcasing the talent of each of the top designers in their project, with the top 15 designers will have their work shown in store. The fifteen finalists who are designers of fashion (yay!), food and art have been carefully selected by a panel led by members of the Selfridges’ Creative Team under the directorship of Creative Director Alannah Weston, and which includes Selfridges’ top buyers, merchandisers, window designers and stylists.

Personally, I love the fact that all designers are either recent graduates or emerging professionals, especially as three of the top contenders hail from our side of the North West. That’s one fifth of the shortlist! High fives for Manchester talent! Womenswear Daniel Pollitt and Collective designer George Wu were both brought up in our city while accessories designer Grace Hamilton studied here, and have earned the privilege to create their own display in one of Selfridges’ world-famous Oxford Street windows. With over one million people walking past the iconic windows every week, the displays will provide an incredible launch-pad for these fledgling designers to showcase their brand vision and creations to the public. Plus, y’all can buy their stuff in the dedicated temporary shop to be set up in Selfridges’ Concept Store on the ground floor’s Wonder Room.

When I asked Selfridges what they thought of our local guys and gal, Alannah Weston, Selfridges’ Creative Director, told me. “one of the most rewarding aspects of my work is to apply the considerable might of our brand to seek, find and nurture young talents whenever possible and wherever they are. There would be no future for our retail industry and many other creative industries if there was not renewal of ideas, no fresh approach and only place for the tried and tested.” True – which is why we should celebrate our three local finalists.

So kittens, have you ever entered a project like Bright Out Things? Leave me a comment below and let me know! And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page and subscribe to my Youtube channel to keep up to date with all things fashion!