The Smiley Future Positive Creators Fund has made its return for 2024 offering financial support and mentorship to emerging and game-changing designers well on the pathway towards innovating in the sustainable fashion space.

Launched to coincide with some major global fashion events this month, the scheme – now the second iteration of the Future Positive Creators Fund – offers up a £500,000 monetary fund and mentorship to aid emerging creators in their mission to ‘change the industry’.

The fund itself is born from Smiley’s Future Positive sustainability initiative in alignment with the United Nations to deliver upon the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.

It’s been designed to assist emerging creators transition towards a more ethical, responsible, and circular approach to design, sourcing, and manufacturing.

As part of the scheme, Smiley will be launching with its first designer, Saul Nash at London Fashion Week. Raised in North East London, Saul Nash is a designer who established his Eponymous brand back in 2018 with a dexterity for revitalising luxury garments.

Saul – alongside a line-up of designers from its 2023 fund that includes Chet Lo, Kevin Germanier, and Shuting Qiu – have now collaborated with Smiley on a capsule collection of clothing and accessories utilising responsible or circular sourcing solutions, incorporating their unique interpretation of the Smiley icon in each A/W 2024 collection.

Nicolas Loufrani, ceo of The Smiley Company, said: “The Fund has expanded its support to include several emerging designers and I am excited to champion these talents as they lead the way in crafting a more sustainable tomorrow.

“It’s an opportunity to shed new light on sustainability, with creative garment design at the forefront. Let’s establish a benchmark and motivate our global manufacturing partners to join the movement. Together, we have the power to make a lasting and positive difference.”