BARCELONA, Aug 14, 2004/ FW/ --- If New York has Gen Art, Ecco Domani and Project Runway to help young designers launch their careers, London has TOPSHOP as a generous underwriter of up and coming designers to show during London Fashion Week.

For the sixth consecutive season, Topshop is funding the “New Generation” sponsorship program for emerging designers. As the biggest supporter of young fashion in the industry, Topshop sponsors 4 fashion events: Re: Creation, Designers at Boutique, Graduate Fashion Week and New Generation,

Established in 1993, the New Generation sponsorship acts as a promotional launch pad for young designers, attracting media profile, orders and investment whilst offering encouragement and support for new talent.

Alexander McQueen, Antonio Berardi, Clements Ribeiro, Julien Macdonald, Matthew Williamson and Sophia Kokosalaki have all benefited from the generous sponsorship.

For the Spring 2005 season, 15 designers will be able to showcase their collections at the Duke of York Headquarters from September 19-23, 2004 either on the catwalk or in the exhibit halls.

Designers receiving support for a catwalk show for the first time are Giles, Ashish, Gardem and Swash. They are joining Jonathan Saunders, Bora Aksu, Alistair Carr and Camilla Staerk on the catwalk.

A member of Saint Martin’s Class of 1992, Giles Deacon designing under his eponymous label “Giles” is recognized a true maverick in British fashion circles. Before launching his own label, he trained under Jean Charles De Castelbajac, Bottega Veneta and the Gucci Group. By 2004, he was ready to spread his own wings so on February of that year, he showed his acclaimed first collection, 'Disco Jacobean Fairytale', aimed at confident, sophisticated and slightly older women such as Charlotte Rampling, Isabella Rossellini and Lauren Hutton. Deacon will bring a polished elegance to the New Generation group for September 2004.

Known for his beautiful and vibrant clothing, Ashish’s unique hand finished pieces complete with intricate embellishments, confirms the notion that clothing only becomes luxurious when, quite literally, it is created out of a true labor of love.

Designing under the label Gardem, Lebanese-Armenian born Garen Demedijian studied at the T. Roslin Academy of Beaux Arts Beirut. After his graduation in 1997, he continued his studies at ESMOD Paris, where he was a member of the class 2000. His signature style of romantic futurism has made him a favorite among the avant-garde fashionistas of Paris and Tokyo.

Design duo Sarah Swash and Tashio Yamanaka, the brains behind the label “Swash” won the 2004 Hyères Fashion Festival cleverly crafted military collection titled ‘Motorbyke Mania.’ Graduates of Central St Martin’s, Tashio Yamanaka’s love for technical mixes united with Sarah Swash’s flair for prints and color is a sensational combination

Complete list of the recipients of TOPSHOP’s New Generation sponsorship for September 2004 are as follows:

Catwalk Show & Exhibition Stand
Alistair Carr
Ashish*
Bora Aksu
Camilla Staerk
Gardem*
Jonathan Saunders
Swash*

Catwalk Show
Giles Deacon*

Accessories Exhibition Stand
Adele Clarke*
Mawi
Zoë Knight

Ready to-Wear Exhibition Stand
Ann-Sofie Back
Peter Jensen
La Petite Salope
Simeon Farrar*

* denotes first time recipient