Fashion Fringe 2008 Launched

Donatella Versace - www.people.com

The search for some of the most promising designers this year has officially begun with the launching of this year's Fashion Fringe initiative at Claridges on Wednesday.

On hand were Colin McDowell, who founded Fashion Fringe five years ago, as well as Donatella Versace, who was just recently appointed honorary chairperson of the annual competition, taking over Tom Ford.

"I am very honored to be joining the committee of Fashion Fringe as their chairperson," Versace previously said about her appointment. "This is an event which I have had great interest in since it began in 2004; London has an unbeatable reputation as the originator of unique fashion talent, and it is very exciting for me to be personally involved in discovering and supporting that talent through the Fashion Fringe initiative."

Also there to support Fashion Fringe and Versace were such major names in fashion as Manolo Blahnik, Roland Mouret and Tatler’s best-dressed supermodel Agyness Deyn.

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