Asos has teamed up with The Fashion Minority Report to launch ScaleUP, a new programme to “help bridge the gap between the fashion industry and ethnic minority-owned brands”.
The etailer said it hopes the programme will help brands that “continue to face barriers in accessing the fashion market” and allow them to scale up their business operations.
The ScaleUP initiative will result in two successful candidates launching a collection that will be available exclusively at Asos, as well as the chance to pitch for up to £20,000 of funding to aid business growth.
The two candidates will also benefit from the mentorship of business leaders and insight from “leading industry experts”.
Asos highlighted that to be eligible applicants of UK-based fashion brands will have been running their businesses for fewer than five years.
The programme will also allow five additional emerging fashion retailers to “showcase their brand” as part of the programme’s press and buyers’ showroom in February 2024.
Asos senior creative director Vanessa Spence joins The Fashion Minority Report founder Daniel Peters on the judging panel.
Spence said: “Asos is passionate about enhancing diversity within the fashion industry by dismantling the obstacles encountered by ethnic minority-owned brands.
“We want to both empower established businesses with a promising vision and nurture emerging talent seeking that extra boost to get into the industry.
“Through ScaleUP, we’re searching for vibrant, captivating brands that resonate with our fashion-loving Asos customers and are highly trend-led, relevant and fashionable at accessible prices.”
Peters added: “As any brand founder knows, the path to success in the fashion industry can often feel challenging, but as someone who is an ethnic minority the barriers are often greater to break through.
“Through our partnership with Asos, we can’t wait to deliver a programme that provides opportunities and the relevant building blocks for scalability to ethnic-minority business owners.”
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