Nov 16, 2001/ --- Hip British retail chain Topshop is the new sponsor of London Fashion Week's New Generation Show, replacing Marks & Spencer, which had sponsored the program since 1993.

The New Generation program grants between $7,000 and $21,500 to a handful of up-and-coming designers to enable them to stage catwalk presentations or access display space in the exhibition tent at London Fashion Week.

Previous recipients of the grant include Alexander McQueen, Julien Macdonald, Matthew Williamson, Hussein Chalayan and Clements Ribeiro. More than 100 young designers have reportedly applied for New Generation sponsorship for the next London Fashion Week, held in February 2002.

"It's a natural progression for us. It goes hand in hand with our promotion of young talent," said Jane Shepherdson, Topshop's brand director.

"We have been supporting new designers at retail level since 1997. In the last five years we have sold Chalayan, Sophia Kokosalaki, Clements Ribeiro, Tracy Boyd, Markus Lupfer and Marcus Constable, to name a few.

It means an entire young audience has been able to buy exciting, cutting edge clothes which they could not otherwise afford," Shepherdson said.