Tu Continues to Support Graduate Fashion Foundation for 2019 With Top Industry Mentors Tata Naka and Teatum Jones
Graduate Fashion Foundation is honoured to announce it 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.
Rob Jones of Teatum Jones, Designer and 2019 Mentor, said:
“We are extremely excited to be taking part in another year of the Tu Scholarship at Graduate Fashion Week. From seeing the candidate, we selected during last year’s judging day, to mentoring them through the commercial stages, to this year’s launch instore, the whole program has been such a rewarding collaboration. It is such a great opportunity for us to take part and share our knowledge and experiences to advise and support young talent at such a pivotal point of their career.”
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 Summer 2019.
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.
Tamara Surguladze of Tata Naka, Designer and 2019 Mentor, 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.”
As part of the continued partnership, Tu will be present during Graduate Fashion Week 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. The 2019 Scholarship Judging will take place live on the stand with Teatum Jones and Taka Naka.
Anna Clarke, Head of Design at Tu, will join both the judging panel for the prestigious Womenswear Award on Wednesday 5th June. Additionally, Tu will be holding their second pop-up shop within Graduate Fashion Week, where the last year’s winners collections will be available to browse and buy online.
Graduate Fashion Week is the world’s largest event for BA Fashion talent and this year’s event will be taking place on 2nd – 5th June 2019 at The Old Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London. Tickets and registration are available now and open to everyone with a passion for fashion and design.