Online fashion retailer Asos is set to follow in the footsteps of fellow retailers Topshop and H&M with the launch of its first talent competition, aimed at cultivating young, British designers. Named Asos Fashion Discovery, the competition is part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to support up and coming designers registered in the UK. The competition sees the retailer seek out the best emerging talents in the fashion industry, as they are on the “lookout for originality, commerciality, personality and entrepreneurial flair.” The competition will see two winners each recieve a cash prize of 50.000 pounds to help develop their brands, as well as mentoring support from Asos for 12 months and the opportunity to sell an edit of each of their brand’s collection on Asos.com for three seasons. Potential applicants can now apply online until May 22, and longlisted candidates be contacted by June 24. Then a judging panel, consisting of Nick Beighton, CEO at Asos, Julia Sarr-Jamois, senior fashion editor at i-D and Andrew Davis, creative director at Wonderland, will then select 12 brands for the shortlist, which will be attend a panel interview at Asos headquarters in October before announcing the final two winners on October 20, 2016. The competition is open to UK registered fashion companies which have been trading for less than five years at www.asos.com/fashion-discovery
