Greek Fashion Designer Mary Katrantzou Deemed BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund Winner

The BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund is a year-long mentoring support scheme, that assists designers in enhancing their lines, complete with a 200,000 pound sterling grant. This year marks the 8th year of the Fund; past honorees include Nicholas Kirkwood, Jonathan Saunders, and Peter Pilotto, among others.

British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, who also serves as the chairwomen of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund stated of Katrantzou's selection, "...incredibly deserving of this year's award. It was an extremely diverse shortlist but ultimately we all agreed that Mary has not only created a strong and hugely appealing identity for her work but that she has put in place measures that, along with the support of this prize, should ensure an exciting and successful next stage of her career."

The Greek fashion designer who resides in London, was born in 1983 in Athens. Katrantzou graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and also studied textile and fashion design at London's Central Saint Martins. Mary Katrantzou has her own fashion line, and has also worked with leading brands including Longchamp and Adidas.