The International Young Fashion Entrepreneur award (IYFE) is a British Council initiative that seeks to champion and celebrate the importance of creative entrepreneurs working in the field of fashion. The award will showcase international innovation in fashion promotion, using the UK as the nexus for cultural, creative and commercial exchange.

This award forms part of a global British Council award which has now expanded to cover all areas of the creative industries. Award programmes for creative talent are common but this programme is unique in that it recognises the central role of young creative entrepreneurs in the development of a competitive and sustainable business field. In 2004 British Council UK launched the first award for entrepreneurs in publishing. This was followed by awards in design (2005), music (2006), screen (2007) and fashion (2008), and soon there will be awards in communications, interactive, performing arts and visual arts, so that there are awards covering all the creative industries. This award programme was devised by the British Council’s Creative Economy Unit to celebrate the achievements and develop the potential of young creative entrepreneurs across the world.

2010 will be the third consecutive time the IYFE takes place. The first award took place in London in February 2008 and Darshi Keerthisena of Buddhi Batiks fame competed along-side 9 other international winners. Last year the Sri Lankan title was won by Linda Speldewinde who is the Managing Director of Academy of Design and she received an opportunity to represent Sri Lanka in the international award where she got a special commendation for her work by the final judging panel.

For more information on Linda’s experience click here

This year too the Sri Lankan winner will be one of ten international finalists and will compete in London for the title of International Young Fashion Entrepreneur 2010.

For the purpose of this award, participants can be drawn from various areas of the fashion sector including- fashion textile, accessories production and design, fashion promotion, fashion marketing, fashion publishing etc. The IYFE award is unique in rewarding entrepreneurial ability. We recognise that a finalist may be active as a fashion designer, but this should be secondary to their focus as an entrepreneur in the promotion of the fashion industry in their country. Please note that excellent English language and communication skills are essential in order to make the most out of the IYFE experience.

Our definition of International young fashion entrepreneur can be applied to both the profit and not for profit sectors. We are not looking to identify the person who has created the most profitable business but who has a wider understanding of the potential of the creative economy in their country, and what their role could be to build this market. We are looking for people who can empower others to exploit this economic potential of the creative industries.

As such, candidates are judged both on the evidence of their existing entrepreneurial skills and their potential to be an agent of change. Although the awards support the development of a strong independent sector it is not necessary for the candidate to have started their own business to qualify – existing evidence of entrepreneurial skill and leadership potential is sufficient.

MTV Channel 1 and YES FM is our electronic media sponsor for the International Young Fashion Entrepreneur (IYFE) award 2010.

For more information call Lakmaal 4521542 or Ranmali 4521538.

Applications close on Friday 18 September 2009.