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Vishal Khairnar
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Paul Smith Foundation Announces 2025/26 Fashion Residency Cohort Empowering Emerging Designers
The Paul Smith Foundation has announced the second cohort of emerging designers joining its Fashion Residency at Studio Smithfield in East London, a pioneering programme that helps new designers transform creativity into a sustainable business model.
The 2025/26 residency brings together an international mix of rising talents —
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Masha Popova (Ukraine): celebrated for her subversive take on denim.
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Harri (India): famed for his sculptural inflatable latex silhouettes, now expanding into ready-to-wear.
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Petra Fagerström (Sweden): recognised for lenticular pleating and master craftsmanship.
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Joyce Bao (China/USA): blending Eastern and Western aesthetics.
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Renata Brenha (Brazil): reimagining crochet and colourful artisanal sportswear.
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Eden Tan (UK): experimental menswear designer working with upcycled materials.
In a new partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), one additional American designer will soon join this diverse lineup.
🌍 Nurturing Creativity with Business Strategy
“When we first embarked on the programme nearly two years ago, the response was overwhelming,” said Sir Paul Smith, founder of the Paul Smith Foundation. “The quality of this year’s cohort reflects the pressing need for such initiatives — a bridge between creative brilliance and business sustainability.”
Launched in 2024 in collaboration with the Mayor of London, Projekt, and supported by British GQ and the City of London Corporation, the four-and-a-half-year initiative provides:
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Free central London studio space for 18 months
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60+ hours of tailored business mentoring covering finance, legal, communications, and production
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Exposure opportunities via Paul Smith’s Paris showroom and access to industry professionals
Mentors like Matthew Mumford, head of creative at Paul Smith, guide designers through hands-on learning, including e-commerce photography sessions at the brand’s Nottingham HQ.
💬 Designers Reflect on the Opportunity
Ukrainian-born designer Masha Popova describes the programme as “a moment to breathe — and a chance to build structure around creativity while strengthening the foundation for the next chapter.”
For Harri, the residency represents “an opportunity to experiment, collaborate, and build sustainable frameworks for the future.”
🎓 Tailored Mentorship for Real Growth
The Paul Smith Fashion Residency focuses on designers who have presented two to six seasons, ensuring participants are ready to apply practical business lessons. “We want designers who are genuinely interested in learning about tax, IP, marketing strategies — not just creative vision,” explains Martha Mosse, Director of the Paul Smith Foundation.
Each designer is paired with a mentor and gains access to a network of 40–50 industry professionals, covering everything from accounting and brand development to legal support through Osborne Clarke LLP, which has even created a bespoke contracts checklist for the designers.
With this residency, the Paul Smith Foundation continues to redefine what “support” means in fashion — not just exposure, but education, structure, and the confidence to build long-term creative businesses.
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