Press pack

FA SHION FORWARD Victoria Beckham celebrates Britsh talent with graduate scheme Fashion Forward On September 1st 2018, Victoria Beckham launches Fashion Forward, a graduate scheme established to celebrate and nurture British talent within the luxury label and offer a supportive working environment for graduates.

Victoria Beckham is welcoming innovation into the team and investing in the future of British fashion by nurturing three top graduates in a year long comprehensive training programme with roles within the design, marketing and communications departments. Through Fashion Forward, students graduating in summer 2019 have the unique opportunity to begin their careers in one of the country’s largest luxury design houses with a competitive salary of £22,000 before bonuses and benefits. The British Fashion Council sponsors Fashion Forward, offering expertise in establishing educational fashion initiatives. Fashion Forward signposts Victoria Beckham’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive workplace to all employees, in the wake of shocking revelations of systematic abuse across the fashion industry.

Victoria Beckham, Creative Director says, “I have been famous for most of my life, however it is only over the past 10 years that I have felt successful. Growing a fashion label from a vision to a reality changed me in ways that music never could, and I want to pass the things I’ve learned on to the next generation of fashion. Fashion Forward is about investing in the industry, our young talent and celebrating the future of British fashion.”

Fashion Forward is the first of many exciting new projects coming from Victoria Beckham in coming months. The brand has renewed itself around the landmark date of its 10th anniversary, which also sees the designer return to London Fashion Week for SS19 after 10 years of showing collections in New York.

Victoria Beckham has impressed the industy with her design skills over the past decade and is preparing to pass her expertise on to the next generation of fashion talent.

Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council says, “British fashion is one of the most diverse and eccentric industries in the world and with uncertain times ahead, it is vital to invest in the future. Fashion should be a joy to produce and consume, and Fashion Forward embodies how I hope the future of fashion will be for the next generation.”

Fashion Forward officially launches on 1st September with an exclusive event at Central Saint Martins. The evening invites industry insiders, fashion lecturers and students to celebrate the launch of the initiative, with Victoria Beckham, Caroline Rush, Edward Enninful, Victoria McGrath and newly appointed Fashion Forward Director, Jane Smith all speaking at the event. For updates on the event and the scheme follow #VBFashionForward. Applications for Fashion Forward open 1st October 2018 and close 10th December 2018.

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Editors Notes

EMBOSS C O M M U N I C AT I O N S Press enquiries: Emboss Communications, 25 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7AB 020 5914 8239 // victoriabeckham@embosscommunications.com About Victoria Beckham: Victoria Beckham is a privately held luxury fashion label based in London, founded by Victoria Beckham in 2008. The brand’s sartorial focus is quintessentially British, high quality womenswear developed with real women’s needs in mind. Victoria Beckham as a brand and as a designer is committed to nurturing British fashion talent and advocating for worker’s and women’s rights within the workplace. The brand has a diverse range of product lines - Ready to Wear; Victoria, Victoria Beckham; Accessories; Eyewear and Shoes. Since the first show in New York in 2008, Victoria Beckham has showcased Spring Summer and Autumn Winter collections at New York Fashion Week each year. In September 2018 the showcase of the SS19 collection will be the first runway show in London. Victoria Beckham has collaborated with Target, Reebok, Estée Lauder, Shopbop and Nails Inc. About the British Fashion Council: The British Fashion Council is a non-profit trade group founded in 1983 to support British Designers. Caroline Rush is Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council. The British Fashion Council organises London Fashion Week, Graduate Fashion Week and the annual British Fashion Awards. Furthermore, the British Fashion Council promotes British fashion designers to a global audience and supports the next generation of fashion talent by supervising higher education across the country. The British Fashion Council aims to strategically reposition British fashion in the global fashion economy through education, business and investment, reputation management and innovation and digital projects.

About Emboss Communications: Emboss Communications represent ethically conscious fashion and beauty brands leaving a positive stamp on the industry. We believe that change starts from the top, and therefore have pledged to only work with brands who respect the impact their work has on people and the planet. Our international portfolio of clients reflects that our innovative services resonate with brands that are committed to creating a positive future for the industry. We endeavour to form an honest relationship with our clients in order to fully understand your aims and achieve optimum results for your brand. Emboss Communications believes that a brand’s sense of responsibility is its DNA and our unique service allows you to develop without compromising on your brands core values.

To access high resolution imagery and a digital version of this press pack and please scan the QR code, contact victoriabeckham@embosscommunications.com, or visit victoriabeckham.com.

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“British fashion is one of the most unique and diverse communities in the industry. I am delighted to see another great British fashion design house investing in the future and making efforts to further improve the industry by offering a nurturing workplace. Victoria has worked incredibly hard to build her brand and young graduates are bound to learn a lot rom her and her teams expertise.”

- Edward Enninful, Editor in Chief of British Vogue

“Developing the programme has been an absolute joy and promises to really develop the successful graduates. There are a really limited number of graduate schemes within fashion so the opportunity to complete one at a house like Victoria Beckham is really something special. ‘I am looking forward to meeting candidates in the new year and seeing what the future of British fashion has to offer.”

- Jane Smith, Fashion Forward Director

“Many great British fashion designers and communicators started their careers at Central Saint Martins so it’s very special to see so many alumni return to celebrate educating the future of the industry.

It’s a testament to fashion education within Britain to be see so many promising students from all corners of the country gathered to celebrate the next chapter in their careers.”

- Hywel Davies, Fashion Programme Director at Central Saint Martins

“Fashion Forward is such an inspiring initiative to see come together.

There’s a huge need for more fashion graduate schemes that offer a fair pay and real training in a variety of disciplines. I have been involved in fashion education since university and having set up my own business, I never forget the vital role that education has played in my career. I am sure that the successful graduates will really benefit from the expertise at Victoria Beckham and British Fashion Council.”

- Victoria McGrath, Blogger and Fashion Lecturer

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2008 • The first Victoria Beckham Ready-to-Wear collection is shown in a private presentation during New York Fashion Week at the Waldorf Hotel 2009 • Victoria Beckham Eyewear line launches 2010 • Victoria Beckham Accessories line launches 2011 • Victoria Beckham wins the Glamour Award for Accessories Designer 2012 • Victoria by Victoria Beckham line launches • Prescription eyewear is added to Victoria Beckham Eyewear • Victoria Beckham wins Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards 2013 • victoriabeckham.com launches • Victoria Beckham wins Glamour Award for Woman of the Decade • Victoria Beckham wins BAMBI Fashion Award 2014 • The first Victoria Beckham store opens at Dover Street Market 2015 • Victoria Beckham wins the Glamour Award for Fashion Force • Victoria Beckham wins the Walpole Award for Luxury Brand of the Year 2017 • Victoria Beckham wins the Harpers Bazaar Award for British Brand of the Year • Victoria Beckham is awarded an OBE on the New Years Honours list for services to fashion • Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham launches • Target x Victoria Beckham collaboration launches • Victoria Beckham receives a £30 million investment 2018 • Victoria Beckham celebrates its 10 year anniversary by returning to London to present at London Fashion Week • Victoria Beckham: Fashion Forward launches

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