V&A Talk Program: Supporting and Empowering the Next Generation of Creative Talent

A discussion on the importance of supporting the next generation of talent by building new systems to cultivate success.

The future of fashion is shaped by emerging talent, yet the path to success in an increasingly competitive industry can feel daunting. This session explores the essential nature of support systems, mentorships, and resources required to empower the next wave of designers, artists, and innovators, while also create equitable opportunities that allow fresh voices to flourish, while contributing to a dynamic fashion ecosystem.

Moderator:

Mahoro Seward, Acting Fashion Features Editor, British Vogue

Mahoro Seward is a London-based writer and editor, working between fine art, fashion and pop culture. They are currently acting fashion features editor at BritishVogue, previously holding the same title at i-D, and have contributed to titles including Wallpaper*, ArtBasel, Frieze, Crosscurrent and Vogue Business.

Panelists:

Sarah Mower, Fashion Journalist & Critic

Sarah Mower MBE is a fashion journalist and critic for US Vogue and an advocate for young designers. She is the British Fashion Council's Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Chair of the NEWGEN committee, the scheme responsible for the rise of a constellation of design stars who show in London Fashion Week, including Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou, JW Anderson, Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Ilincic, Nicholas Kirkwood, Peter Pilotto and Simone Rocha.

Nicklas Skovgaard, Founder & Designer, Nicklas Skovgaard

Nicklas Skovgaard is a womenswear brand, with a strong elocution intending to delight through unexpected parallels. Founded in 2020, the Copenhagen-based brand aims to explore the relationship textiles can hold in expressing narrative through the marriage of unexpected material and classical form. Constructing two collections a year, each body of work for Nicklas Skovgaard builds upon the last, acting with an evolutionary purpose and building an ever-evolving vocabulary. Orchestrating these classical and strange symphonies within his eponymous textiles and recognizable design, Nicklas Skovgaard is a brand cultivated on the edge of romanticism and realism.

Caroline Issa, CEO and Fashion Director, Tank Magazine

Originally a retail and consumer goods consultant with an undergraduate business degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, she joined TANK Magazine in2002 and has since become CEO and fashion director ofLondon-based quarterly title TANK and editor ofBecauseLondon.com.She is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Artangel and is a Non-Executive Director of the BritishFashion Council, both not-for-profit organisations committed to championing and developing excellence in the art and fashion worlds respectively.

Tolu Coker, Fashion Designer and Multidisciplinary Artist

Tolu Coker is a British-Nigerian fashion designer and multidisciplinary artist known for her storytelling through sustainable design. A Central Saint Martins graduate, she launched her eponymous label in 2021 after working with brands like Maison Margiela and Celine. Her work fuses Yoruba heritage with contemporary tailoring, often exploring identity, culture, and community. Celebrated for her innovative approach, Coker is a finalist for the 2025 LVMH Prize.