UK based IC tomorrow, a programme by the UK Government's innovation agency—Technology Strategy Board, has launched a £120,000 competition, 'Digital Innovation Contest – Fashion', in collaboration with the British Fashion Council (BFC) and the Tech City Investment Organization (TCIO), to develop innovative products and services that will bring innovation and technology in the British fashion world. The 'Digital Innovation Contest – Fashion' is open to all companies and developers and not just to those who are currently involved in the UK fashion industry. The competition will announce four awards of £30,000 each. The winners will be given an opportunity to trial their prototypes with the individual challenge partner over a minimum three-month period.
The competition is divided into three stages—design category, retail category and media category—that are organized by the London College of Fashion, augmented reality business Holition, the creators of the world's first pop-up mall Boxpark, and the UK fashion and celebrity magazine Grazia. Launching the competition, Programme Manager of IC tomorrow, Matt Sansam said, "Though the fashion and digital sectors are among the most vibrant and innovative markets in the UK, they operate independent of each other. Greater involvement among the two sectors could bring benefits to both, which is why we are launching this competition." "The fashion industry will be able to make inroads in the online arena, while digital firms will gain from exposure to a range of fashion industry partners, being able to test new applications, products and services with major industry players,"
Mr. Sansam said. The Deputy CEO of TCIO, Benjamin Southworth, said, "The contest will help to continue the trend of infusing digital technology with fashion by the technology developers of the UK." A briefing event and web-seminar will be conducted on May 23, 2013, and the final challenge of the competition will be held on July 10, 2013, in London.
