Première Vision Group, organiser of the world’s leading sourcing events for fashion professionals, will continue its support for emerging textile designers through an agreement with TexSelect that will build on the talent search programme’s legacy with an international perspective from 2020. Première Vision Group, the longstanding sponsor of the not-for-profit organisation that was formerly known as Texprint, will take over as champion of new graduate talent when TexSelect completes its voluntary winding up at the end of September. The two organisations, which have run in parallel for nearly 50 years, share a common objective of supporting creativity in textile design.
“Both Première Vision and TexSelect view knit, print, weave and mixed media innovators as being a vital, creative force in the advancement of textile and apparel design,” says Gilles Lasbordes, Managing Director of Première Vision Group. “Première Vision is committed to giving new designers space and support between university and the launch of their professional practice.” Through its long history, TexSelect has offered exceptional graduate talent from UK universities a guided pathway into the professional sphere, led by industry experts.
The annual TexSelect programme culminates in September with an awards ceremony at PV Designs, the creative textiles and surface design universe of Première Vision Paris, where each of the 24 new designers has a stand under their own name. “Over recent years, we have had a tough time raising the funds required to run the scheme. At the same time, many of our loyal management team are retiring,” explains Barbara Kennington, TexSelect’s honorary Chairman.
“As a major sponsor, and host of the TexSelect design village, we spoke with our colleagues at Première Vision about our intention to wind-up the charity at the end of 2019. We are delighted that our colleagues at Première Vision have been so forthcoming and will create new opportunities for young designers when TexSelect in its current form closes.”
