The QASIMI RISING Talent Incubator has been designed to nurture and grow designers. The program will aim to amplify the voices in fashion with strategic acumen for creative talents from across the globe. The incubator will provide three years funding (which is six seasons) for the selected designers, and an additional seven years mentoring to build a long-term approach for success.

• Applicants should have an established designer fashion business (Limited Company in the UK/Private held Company for outside the UK), that has been trading for a minimum of one year.
• Applicants must have at least two collections recently which have been sold via wholesale accounts or through direct-to-consumer channels.
• Applicants can be located anywhere globally.
• Applicants must be open to establish business presence in the United Kingdom or European Union.

• Exhibit excellent creativity, aesthetic sense, and craftsmanship within their design
• Current market traction and relevance
• Revenue growth achieved through wholesale and other direct to consumer channels in the last 1 to 2 years
• Demonstrates a clear commitment to being a responsible entrepreneur
• Demonstrates a clear brand vision and strength as a creative entrepreneur
• Demonstrates clearly on how they plan their future growth
• Quality, strength, and integrality of the application

TIMELINE

What is the QASIMI RISING Talent Incubator?

The Qasimi Rising Talent Incubator is an investment-based incubator program that supports emerging designers, who are ready to take the next step in their journey and set up their business for global success, by providing holistic support across all business verticals.

Who is the QASIMI RISING Talent Incubator for?

The application is open to fashion designers across the globe who have an established designer fashion business which:

• has been trading for at least one year;

• has at least two collections that have been sold via wholesale accounts or direct-to-consumer channels;

• is based in any part of the world;

• is open to establish a presence in the UK or EU.

I am an accessory designer. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, designers from all areas of the fashion industry are welcome to apply, whilst please clearly state the main category of your brand in your application when answering the related questions.

What will I receive by being part of the Talent Incubator? 

As one of the two winners of the Talent Incubator, you will receive: 

• 10 years of professional support

  • 3 years of tailored financial investment and studio support, covering 6 seasons

  • 7 years of additional mentoring

• coworking studio spaces in London and Amsterdam

• a dedicated e-commerce platform to build your brand identity and sell products

Mentorship and support will be tailored based on each individual brand’s needs, goals and location, rather than strict criteria or fixed business plans.

More details to follow after the application.

 

How long will this program last? 

The Qasimi Rising Talent Incubator will nurture two emerging designers over the course of ten years, providing three years of financial & studio support and a further seven years of mentoring.

What is the application process and timeline?

What will I need to include in my application?

As part of the initial application you will be invited to answer questions about yourself and your brand, from creative and business aspects.

You will be also asked to:

• Share a 4 to 5 minute long video taking us through who you are and your work (Upload the video to YouTube as unlisted and share its link with us. Recommended minimum resolution: 1080p.)

• Upload a PDF of your portfolio, including sketches and images of a preferred collection of yours. (Size limit: 20MB)

• Upload any additional information that you'd like to share with us (e.g. business plan, org chart, press book or any other relevant information that you believe will support your application - in one PDF document, size limit: 20MB)

Please note that the size limit for all uploads is 20MB per document. In case your documents are larger than this limit, we recommend using a trusted PDF compressing software.

When will I hear back if I get through? 

Successful candidates of Stage 1 will be contacted by 20th January 2023. You will also be notified if you are not selected this year and are more than welcome to apply anytime in future.

You will also be notified if you are not selected this year and are more than welcome to apply anytime in future. 

I’m ready to go! Where can I apply?

Great news! Please click the ‘APPLY NOW’ button on the top right corner of this page.

What if my business is not based in the UK or the European Union?

Depending on your current location, you might be required to establish a business presence in the UK or the European Union. We will discuss this more in detail as part of the legal onboarding process.

Do you expect my fashion brand to participate in a certain fashion week?

As a new member of the Qasimi family, which attends the London Fashion Week and Paris Showrooms every season, each selected designer will be provided with a platform for their collections to be presented there. The relevant logistics (such as Visa) will be arranged by the Qasimi Rising Talent Incubator.

What if I have more questions?

In case you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to us at rising@qasimi.com. We look forward to hearing from you.