CFE is delighted to announce the newest designers joining our Fashion Pioneer Programme, starting this spring. These future players in fashion are former FashionEast designer Asai, Fun Affair, Gayeon Lee, Wright Le Chapelain and De La Vali.

This time, all the brands specialise in womenswear, tipping the balance on previous programme cohorts, which have tended towards menswear. Selected by a panel including Journalist Jess Bumpus and Label/Mix CEO Gemma Metheringham, these brands all reflect CFE’s commitment to a progressive London-based fashion community and its motion towards grown-up and long-lasting womenswear.

Fresh out of FashionEast’s three-season offering, Asai has garnered attention for his fun and youthful digital print jersey pieces and is now evolving his aesthetic and his woman, for AW19 introducing grown-up outwear and tailoring in earthy shades. In a similar vein, Imogen Wright and Vincent Le Chapelain of Wright Le Chapelain have developed a tailored aesthetic for women, playing with masculine cuts to create cool, relaxed and highly wearable silhouettes. FUN AFFAIR and Gayeon Lee offer reimaginings of classically feminine shapes – skirt two-pieces and slip dresses, while De La Vali who were Ibiza-born and raised, and made a name for themselves dressing the Island’s celebrity party-goers, in free-spirited and feminine party attire before moving to London to grow their brand.

We are very grateful to have been selected to be part of the CFE fashion pioneer programme. Last year we took part in the Market Entry programme and as a young brand, we are aware of how important support is in order to grow and reach our goals. We look forward to starting the programme and to keep on developing with the help of professionals and experts in their field.

Wright Le Chapelain

Starting April 2019, this three-month compressed Pioneer Programme helps designers navigate the complexities of running a fashion SME and meets the specific needs of each business through expert workshops and individual tailored support delivered by industry consultants across, Branding, Digital, Business planning Sales strategy, Production, Finance and Legal.