Image via The Cut

This season's London Fashion Week is a special one for Topshop as it marks the tenth year that the retailer has been sponsoring NEWGEN, an intitative to fund the shows of London's best design talent. To celebrate the anniversary they have teamed up with twenty designers that they have worked with, past and present, - including Holly Fulton, Christopher Kane and Mary Katrantzou - to create a special line of t-shirts that will be available in strores and online from Friday February 17 to Tuesday February 22.

Will you buy one?

See more images from the collection after the jump

Peter Jensen has been a fixture on the London Fashion Week circuit for the past few years. Since winning the British Fashion Council's NewGen sponsorship for his Spring/Summer 2004 collection, his directional, embroidery and graphic design-led creations have graced our catwalks ever since.

The designer recently told Vogue.com, however, of his forthcoming plans to show his 2010/2011 menswear and women's wear collections in the Big Apple. "I'd been thinking for a long time that I'd like to do something in New York...I'm really excited to have a new challenge and to have a reason to travel more to New York." With an army of fans and a collaboration with the mighty Topshop under his belt, we're sure Mr Jensen will be welcomed with open arms when he unveils his upcoming collections at Milk Studios on the Valentine's Day.

The British Fashion Council has announced the names of the recipients of its designer support initiative under its NEWGEN MEN scheme. Launched earlier this year, the initiative aides designers by providing funding to enable them to showcase their work at London Fashion Week, as well as access to use of the BFC Catwalk Show Space at Somerset House. Like its sister scheme, NEWGEN, which is sponsored by Topshop, NEWGEN MEN is sponsored by Topman and follows on from the MAN show, which offers designers similar sponsorship and business assistance.

This shortlist for the coming autumn/winter 2010 NEWGEN MEN includes Carolyn Massey, whose designs have been described as "quintessentially English", Christopher Shannon, known for his "luxe sportswear inspired collection and wearable collaborations with Eastpak and Topman, as well as LFW credentials having shown as part of the MAN initiative'", James Long, for "his ability to push the boundaries whilst creating truly wearable pieces", and J.W. Anderson, whose "intriguing silhouettes and romantic detailing have affirmed his stature as one of the most promising emerging menswear designers in London."

Read more after the jump

Good news for talented up and coming designers: The British Fashion Council and the fashion bible that is Vogue have come up with a new project, which will provide one lucky fashion designer with £200,000 in addition to mentoring and support to help launch an international career. The fund, aptly named The BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, was launched earlier this week and mirrors that of the one stateside, Vogue/CFDA fund, the brainchild of none other than Anna Wintour.

Unlike other funding projects currently offered by the BFC, including the NewGen and Fashion Forward schemes, this simply requires designers to have international stockists, strong media profile and an established business. The fund will be presided over by Harold Tilman, who will chair the fund alongside British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, who will chair the inaugural judging panel.

Speaking about the project, Mr Tilman said, "...Designer talent is the lifeblood of the fashion industry. Now is the time for the industry to directly support this talent and sign up to the Fund...There are some strong designer businesses based here in the UK...This fund aims to help our most talented designers to become the global fashion brands of the future."

For those of you who think or know you have what it takes, you have until Dec. 2 to apply, and the finalists will be shortlisted by April 2010.

Mark Fast Runway: Spring/Summer 2010 - London Fashion Week

I think it's safe to say that Topshop is amongst one of the world's most influential high street stores. Usually first to offer uber chic variations of runway looks at break-neck speed, the international high-street store has just announced that it is set to collaborate with none other than fashion's golden boy of the moment, Mark Fast, who fearlessly sent plus sized models down the runway during LFW last week.

The partnership looks set to be a match made in heaven as Fast has shown that he can produce the most elegant and feminine yet edgy pieces as seen in his Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Having just been sponsored by Topshop to put on his LFW through  NEWGEN, it was quite clear that their partnership would be a long lasting one. At present the whole operation is entirely top secret but if his last collection is anything to go by, expect Mark's collection for Topshop to sell out Fast!

Henry Holland and Agyness Deyn

House of Holland designer Henry Holland has won Topshop NEWGEN sponsorship. Again. Other designers in the influential programme for Fall 2009 London Fashion Week include Mark Fast, Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchhoff and Peter Pilotto.

If Anna Wintour's even thinking about showing up to the Brit capital in September (for the first time in eons), we expect the 25th anniversary season won't be too bad.

Read more after the jump