Announcing Mr Porter Futures: A Global Menswear Designer Mentorship Programme

MR PORTER, the world’s leading destination for men’s style is proud to announce and launch MR PORTER FUTURES, a first of its kind global and comprehensive talent search for three aspiring menswear designers who MR PORTER and a team of industry mentors will select to participate in a year-long design and business mentorship programme, from September 2021 – September 2022.

Built around MR PORTER’s 10^thanniversary themes of craftsmanship, discovery, inclusivity and community,MR PORTER FUTURES is open to anyone across the globe who meets the below criteria*, and aims to identify and nurture new design talent from outside the fashion mainstream, breaking down the barriers to luxury fashion by drawing eligible candidates from an international pool, and selected through an initial anonymous application review process. The goal is to discover original voices, lift new talent and introduce them on a global stage.

The three selected designers or design duos will undergo a year-long programme of workshops and one-to-one coaching, benefiting from access to leading mentors in the fashion industry alongside MR PORTER’s in-house team of buyers, designers, and creative and marketing experts. Beyond the mentoring and coaching, each designer will gain the essential marketing and retail skills required to build successful, standalone brands in an increasingly competitive marketplace, while also designing, developing and delivering their very own responsibly sourced and produced collections, through the support of MR PORTER’s own-label Mr P. team and consultancy Create Sustain, to be made globally available on MR PORTER in September 2022.

*MR PORTER FUTURES applications open on Monday 26 April at 9.00am BST and eligible candidates will be required to meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must beaged 18 or older
• Open to individuals or design duos only
• Must not be a current MR PORTER brand, or a brand currently in contract with MR PORTER or YOOX-NET-A-PORTER GROUP
• Cannot already own a registered or trademarked business with an annual turnover of over €10,000
• Agree to work with MR PORTER to develop a (minimum) 15-piece menswear ready-to-wear collection (we are unable to accept applications for technical sportswear, accessories or footwear collections)
• Must be able to undertake the majority of the programme remotely
• Must be available to attend sessions in London on to-be-confirmed dates in August, November 2021 and TBC Spring, September 2022 (all travel expenses will be fully covered by MR PORTER)
• Must agree to participate in progress reviews
• Able to submit their application in English and participate in English-language courses

Deadline for applicants is Sunday 6 June at 11.59pm BST, after which MR PORTER and a selection committee of MR PORTER FUTURES Mentors will assess eligible applications through an anonymous review process; each application will receive a rating based on a combined assessment of written answers and submitted design briefs. Applicant ratings will be aggregated in June, and the top selection will be asked to interview with the MR PORTER FUTURES Mentor Selection Committee in July. Following the final interviews, three designers or design duos will be selected and prepared for the programme’s start and announcement in September 2021.

The inaugural MR PORTER FUTURES MentorSelection Committee will include:

• Mr Nicholas Daley, menswear designer and founder of Nicholas Daley
• Ms Julie Ragolia, brand consultant, stylist and MR PORTER contributor
• Mr Tatsuo Hino, director of BEAMS & CO and MR PORTER Style Council member
• Mr Reese Cooper, designer, founder and creative director of Reese Cooper®
• Ms Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, London College of Fashion, UAL
• Mr Olie Arnold, MR PORTER Style Director
• Mr Sam Kershaw, MR PORTER Buying Director

“We are thrilled to embark on our inaugural journey of MR PORTER FUTURES, an initiative born from a desire to discover and develop new talent from the global world we live in, and for the global community MR PORTER serves. We have always been committed to championing a diverse mix of new and emerging designers throughout MR PORTER’s decade in business, but if this year has taught us anything, it is that we have the responsibility to use our global platform to give equal opportunities to all new aspiring menswear voices, no matter their experience or background. MR PORTER FUTURES’s anonymous application process ensures that the programme is open to everyone, including those outside of the industry mainstream. We are also proud to be shaping the future of menswear to produce high quality, responsibly sourced collections that are designed with inherent value, longevity and integrity; qualities MR PORTER prizes above all else.”

Mr Sam Kershaw, Buying Director, MR PORTER

“As MR PORTER marks its 10^th anniversary, we continue to carve a space as a leader and role model in the menswear world, with ultimate thanks to our engaged and global network, alongside the collaborative partners, brands, designers and contributors who make up our multifaceted community. It is with these resources and extended support system, both internally and externally, that enables us to launch the MR PORTER FUTURES programme and create new opportunities within our industry.”

Ms Fiona Firth, Managing Director, MR PORTER

MR PORTER FUTURES will become an annual, ongoing programme where new talent will be nurtured and developed for introduction across MR PORTER’s global platform, which serves more than 180 countries, and delivers more than 550 brands across luxury, ready-to-wear, luxury watches, sport, grooming and lifestyle.

For more details on MR PORTER FUTURES, and for directions to apply, please visit https://www.mrporter.com/futures