We are proud to announce our continued partnership with Tu for the third year running. Following the success of previous years, the 2018 partnership will see both a Womenswear and Menswear graduate receive a year-long scholarship within the Tu design team in Coventry. The lucky graduates will embark on a mentorship with acclaimed British designers Oliver Spencer, who joins for a second year running as menswear mentor, and Teatum Jones who join for the first time, mentoring for womenswear.
“We wanted to be involved with the GFW charity and the Tu Scholarship because every graduate deserves a chance to be nurtured into a confident creative young professional and valued for their talent in the same way we were when we graduated. The Tu scholarship provides invaluable insight into the industry, with the in-house team offering fantastic support every step of the way. Leadership takes guts and tenacity and the persistence to stay true to your vision”
Cat Teatum of Teatum Jones, Designer and 2018 Mentor
Building on Tu’s commitment to support emerging talent, the winning graduates will both complete a paid 12-month placement with the Tu design department, culminating in the launch of their own collection in 2019. The winners will be coached by the in-house teams, gaining insight into the fashion industry from buying though to design.
This follows the success of the 2017 winners, Amy Vanderwal and Laura Gillings, under the guidance of mentors Henry Holland and Oliver Spencer, whose own capsule collections launch for Tu later this season.
The winning womenswear and menswear graduates will have access to Teatum Jones and Oliver Spencer, whose involvement in the programme will include monthly meetings with the graduates and creative sessions to review the winner’s 2019 collections for Tu. In addition to this, both designers will invite the winners to experience a day in their design studio.
“I am delighted to be working with GFW and Tu for a second year running. The scholarship award is a great opportunity for graduates to get first-hand knowledge of working within the industry, from the factory to the shop floor. Having taken part in 2017, I am very impressed with the way Tu is being run and how open minded they are on scholarships which I feel are greatly important in our industry”
Oliver Spencer, Designer and 2018 Mentor
As part of the continued partnership, Tu will be present during Graduate Fashion Week 2018 hosting a Tu hub within the sponsorship floor. This interactive space will be set-up for graduates to visit with their portfolios to obtain advice and apply for recruitment opportunities directly from the Tu team. Both 2017 winner’s collections will be showcased here and the 2018 Scholarship Judging will take place live on the stand with Teatum Jones and Oliver Spencer. Anna Clarke, Head of Design at Tu, will chair the selection panel for the shortlist of 25 finalists for the Best of GFW and Gala catwalk shows.
New for this year, Tu will host a pop-up shop within Graduate Fashion Week, where the SS18 Graduate Fashion Week collections will be available to browse and buy online. This innovative space will be the first standalone concept for Tu outside of a Sainsbury’s superstore.
“Following the huge success of the last two Tu scholarship programmes we are delighted to be partnering with Graduate Fashion Week for a third year. Tu is committed to supporting new design talent, we’re pleased to be working with Oliver Spencer again, and welcome Teatum Jones as new mentors. Good luck to all graduates participating!”
James Brown, Director of Commercial for Sainsbury’s Argos
Tu will also be hosting three engaging talks within the GFW Talk Live! studio with key industry and team members. They include last year’s scholarship winners with their mentors Henry Holland and Oliver Spencer, Fashion PR and retail guru Mary Portas.
“2018 is a truly exciting year for Graduate Fashion Week as we expand the event to be bigger than ever before. Based on the triumph of last year’s Scholarship Award winners being mentored by Henry Holland and Oliver Spencer, we are really excited to see what the 2018 winners bring to the brand under the guidance of their industry designer mentors. Tu are giving graduates the amazing and unique opportunity to win a paid placement year and launch their own collection”
Martyn Roberts, Creative & Managing Director of Graduate Fashion Week