The Young Creative Entrepreneur (YCE) awards are run by the British Council’s Creative Economy Unit to celebrate the achievements and develop the potential of young creative entrepreneurs both Internationally and in the UK. In collaboration with Architecture, Design, Fashion, the Young Design Entrepreneur and Young Fashion Entrepreneur awards champion entrepreneurs working within the design and fashion industries.

The winners of the UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur (UKYFE) Award, Simeon Hartwig, Bantum Clothing, and the International Young Fashion Entrepreneur (IYFE) Award, Oscar Lawalata, were announced at London Fashion Week by fashion critic Hilary Alexander.

Winner of the UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur award 2009 – Simeon Hartwig

Simeon Hartwig is the owner and designer for Bantum Clothing, established as a label specialising in street-style clothing. The label originally catered for smaller men after Simeon spotted a gap in the market, but has since responded to demand to include larger sizes and womenswear and now has stockists throughout the UK.

Simeon was awarded the title for his ability to see potential in a business opportunity and pursue it and the judges commented that, ‘A natural communicator, Simeon brings people together with his enthusiasm and drive’.

Describing the tour to India, Simeon says that one of the highlights of the trip was ’a realisation of the extent of detail and embellishment that goes into products that we just don’t see in the UK’. This inspired him to address the scope for collaboration with Indian designers and producers.

Simeon developed many relationships with potential partners while he was in India, staying longer to spend time with Shimul Mehta Vyas of Lifestyle Accessory Design; developing designs and looking into each stage of the production process. During the trip he became particularly aware of the sense of community that emerges in the fashion industry in India. Collaborations are the norm and are sought out not only from a design perspective but also from a desire to create jobs and opportunities for others; something he now aspires to in his own business model.

Winner of the International Young Fashion Entrepreneur award 2009 – Oscar Lawalata

Oscar Lawalata is a fashion designer and owner of PT Oscaroscar based in Indonesia. Oscar has two boutiques and three labels: Oscar Lawalata Culture, Oscar Lawalata Couture and Oscar Lawalata Uniforms, and has won several awards and recognition across Asia. Oscar was presented with a financial prize, which is to be spent on a collaborative project with the UK.

Oscar is a driven and ardent designer whose passion for his cultural heritage is palpable in his collections. Indonesia’s 17,508 islands are inhabited with over 300 ethnic groups whose rich heritage is evident in the array of traditional textiles that are a visual reference to its many cities: Ikat from Maluku, Batik in Java, silk from Sulawesi and Jumputan in Kalimantan.

The visibility of these textiles in contemporary Indonesian society is limited to traditional costumes, which are displayed during festivals, and to the plethora of tourist souvenirs. Oscar has employed hundreds of artisans across Indonesia to produce textiles and jewellery, which he incorporates into his collections, demonstrating the potential for these skills in contemporary practice. Through his initiative, Weaving the Future, Oscar continues to raise awareness of Indonesian textiles by mentoring emerging fashion designers from arts schools across the country who wish to work with these fabrics. This not only ensures the longevity of these traditional skills but also the livelihoods of hundreds of artisans.

The judges’ citation for Oscar reads:

Oscar’s entrepreneurial approach uses product development and promotion to take traditional textiles onto the international fashion market, employing many in the process. His striking level of aesthetic and impressive understanding of local context and the inherent value of heritage is an approach that is to be commended. The judges believe that his approach is a model of best practice, which presents opportunity for the fashion sector in many emerging economies.