Labrum is the winner of this year’s BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund. Foday Dumbuya, the brand’s founder, will receive a grant of £100,000, a year of mentorship, pro bono legal services and access to specialist advisers.
Founded in 2014, Labrum is known for sharing the untold stories of the diaspora, a fusion of African values and British tailoring. The brand’s selection is due to Dumbuya’s ability to ‘take its collections to the next level while maintaining a distinct creative vision’, which reflects the ‘originality that British fashion is known for’, according to BFC managing director Laura Weir.
She continued: “With stories rooted in heritage, community and diaspora, Labrum is a powerful cultural dialogue with lasting impact. We are proud to be working with the team at British GQ to support the brand’s growth and accelerate momentum at this important stage.”
In a statement, Dumbuya called winning the award an “incredibly special moment,” adding: “As a brand built on the stories of migration, identity and cultural exchange, this recognition is a reminder that those stories matter.”
“The fund gives us the platform, resources and confidence to continue to build Labrum into a truly global British brand. This will allow us to invest in our team, strengthen our business and reach new audiences, while staying true to the community and values that brought us here.”
Labrum is the first designer to receive the BFC/GQDFF since the introduction of the council’s new strategy: BFC 2030: Access, Creativity, Growth. The focus shifts from promotion of designers to more concrete support. The fund is part of Awards & Programs, a pillar focused on the development of commercially resilient companies.
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