We’re pleased to announce GFF will once again be partnering with Tu for the fourth year running. Following the success of recent years, the 2019 partnership will see two talented graduates receive a year-long scholarship within the Tu design team in Coventry.
The chosen graduates will each earn a mentorship with acclaimed British designers Tamara and Natasha Surguladze from label Tata Naka, and returning mentors Rob Jones and Catherine Teatum from; 2016 International Woolmark Prize winning brand Teatum Jones.
“We are extremely excited to be taking part in another year of the Tu Scholarship at Graduate Fashion Week,” said Rob Jones. “From seeing the candidate we selected during last year’s judging day, to mentoring them through the commercial stages, to this year’s launch in store, the whole program has been such a rewarding collaboration.”
Tata Naka, the sister team from Georgia, will join the Tu Scholarship programme for the first time the year. Of their involvement, Tamara Surguladze said “We were happy to be asked to mentor this year’s Tu scholarship. It’s an extremely exciting opportunity for the graduates where they not only get a years internship with Tu but also get mentoring and guidance to create their own collection. It’s a great way to support upcoming talent in UK and we are proud to be part of it.”
Through this year’s renewed partnership, Tu will support Graduate Fashion Foundations’ emerging talent by offering the winning graduates a paid 12-month placement with the Tu design department, which will culminate in the launch of their own collection in 2020. The winners will be guided by the in-house teams, gaining invaluable insight into the fashion industry from buying through to design.
For the first time, the scholarship will not be specified to a particular category to ensure talent remains the focus. Each of the winners will be mentored throughout their scholarship by the mentors, offering them unparalleled support and guidance, plus for 2019 both winners will visit the Tu India Sourcing Office on a one month working trip.
This follows the success of the 2018 mentorship winners, Molly Hopwood and Jennifer Healy who under the guidance of mentors Oliver Spencer and Teatum Jones, have created their own collections that will be showcased at Tu’s stand at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week and launch in Autumn 2019.
GFW18 Tu Scholarship winner Molly Hopwood
GFW18 Tu Scholarship winner Jennifer Healy
The two winning graduates will have regular support and guidance from Teatum Jones and Tata Naka. Graduates will have access to the designers and will have monthly meetings with Teatum Jones and Tata Naka that include creative sessions to review the winner’s proposed 2020 collections for Tu. In addition to this, both designers will invite the winners to experience a day in their design studio. For more information about this year’s Tu Scholarships, click the link below.
