“I've actually left feeling so refreshed, inspired and excited for what's to come...” Overheard at The Fashion Accelerator Judging Day
The Graduate Fashion Foundation, supported by PVH and Dazed, launched the Fashion Accelerator for fashion entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds looking to grow their fashion businesses or brands. The programme offers mentorship, seminars, panels, networking, and a showroom opportunity at Truman Brewery, alongside one-to-one guidance from industry mentors and the chance to sell or promote work at Graduate Fashion Week.
The 2026 judging day was held at The Mills Fabrica with an excellent panel of industry experts to select this year’s cohort for The Fashion Accelerator: helping early-stage designers, photographers, stylists, and creative entrepreneurs build strong business foundations and take their careers to the next level.
The panel of judges reflects a wide range of expertise across the fashion industry, ranging from creative strategy to independent practice. These include: Arooj Aftab, Cultural Strategist and Founder of Done With Diversity; Lucinda Bounsall, Founder of Sibling Studio; Amy Tsang, Head of Europe at The Mills Fabrica; Ying Suen, Co-Founder of APOC Store; Maximilian Raynor, Designer & Creative Director at Maximilian Raynor Studio; Ana Corona, Project Manager at Dazed; and Erica Travis, Marketing & Partnerships at Dazed. Bringing experience across publishing, cultural strategy, buying, studio practice, and entrepreneurship, the panel offers young designers an informed and experienced platform to pitch their ideas. Meeting at The Mills Fabrica, the judges reviewed submissions from emerging creatives, aiming to nurture fresh talent.
“I’ve actually left feeling so refreshed, inspired and excited for what’s to come, with all the amazing ideas and people that are coming into the industry.”
The judges were highly impressed by the creativity and professionalism demonstrated in each of the presentations, making the selection process extremely competitive. After careful consideration, ten outstanding creatives will be selected for the Fashion Accelerator cohort in recognition of their strong concepts, innovation, and potential for growth.
We will announce the final cohort on 20th February 2026, so watch this space!
