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On Thursday, February 18^th Mich Dulce appeared before a judging panel that included Vanessa Denza, Managing Director of Denza Ltd; Justine Simons, Cultural Strategy Manager for the London Mayor’s Office and Diane Pernet, Editor of A Shaded View on Fashion. Assessed on her entrepreneurial ability, leadership skills and market awareness; Mich Dulce will go on to receive a prize of £5,000 to develop a collaborative project with the British Council.

Designer and milliner Mich Dulce has a distinct aesthetic – a sense of the sublime coupled generously with exuberant experimentation. Having studied at leading fashion institutions including Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, and New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology; Mich Dulce then apprenticed under Marjan Pejoski, Jessica Ogden and Susan Cianciolo. Since launching her label in 2001, Mich Dulce has established a successful brand recognized for her handmade, exquisitely moulded hats.

The International Young Fashion Entrepreneur (IYFE) programme is a yearly awards scheme, a cross departmental collaboration between the Creative Economy and Design Teams at the British Council. Each year, finalists from transitional economy countries around the world come to London to meet with key fashion industry figures. The aim of this programme is to highlight the best of British design and business practice and to introduce practitioners and fashion entrepreneurs from the UK to our global network.

The IYFE 10 finalists come from around the world. They’ve already been awarded the title of Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 in their respective countries and they’re on their way to London to battle it out for the International title. Here’s a list of the eight that have made it this far:

Lithuania - Mindaugas_Morkunas

Mindaugas Morkunas is Managing Director at Sick Service, which was established in 2006 by a team of professionals who have more than 10 years of experience working with various high quality entertainment brands in the Lithuanian market. Sick Service manages the Fashion Infection festival, the most prominent fashion event in Lithuania. Event is responsible for a recent generation of Lithuanian designers who were found and promoted during last 10 years of the festival. Event is distinguished for its conceptuality, bohemian spirit, extraordinary and unconventional fashion shows. Festival schedule involves catwalk shows, exhibitions, show-rooms and fashion seminars which are organized for local fashion professionals.

Farzana Yusef - Bangladesh

Farzana Yusuf is a designer, educator and fashion entrepreneur. Farzana opened Studio Emprint in the spring of 2008 with a group of embroiderers. Prior to her MA in Textiles Design from the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London, where she specialized in Couture embroidery techniques, she studied at NIFT New Delhi. Farzana work addresses the issues related to social responsibility and ethical design philosophy. At Studio Emprint, every garment is timeless, handmade and is made using traditional craftsmanship. Prints, beading and embroidery across all collections are designed and produced in-house and by small scale producers and are targeted to niche markets.

India - Nachiket Barve

Nachiket Barve is a Mumbai-based fashion designer. After graduating from Mumbai University with a Bachelor of Commerce, he joined the National Institute of Design (NID) for a diploma in Apparel and Accessory Design. Following a stint at ENSAD Paris on a scholarship by the French Government, he launched his eponymous label at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai in March 2007. The SS 2010 show won rave reviews from press and retailers. Nachiket Barve Design designs and manufactures textiles and garments. The label stands for Nachiket’s philosophy – luxury expressed in a contemporary, fresh and innovative way.

Philippines - Mich Dulce

Designer and milliner Mich Dulce has a distinct aesthetic – a sense of the sublime coupled generously with exuberant experimentation. Having studied extensively at some of the world’s best fashion schools (Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, and New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology) as well as interning with Marjan Pejoski, Jessica Ogden and Susan Cianciolo, she launched her eponymous label in 2001 and has since evolved from her voluminous, textured and hand treated garments to a more mature sensibility without losing her trademark quirks and offbeat draping.

Russia - Maria Bergelson

In 2008, Maria Bergelson started Sunday Up Market – now she leads a team of 15 motivated young professionals in developing ideas and implementing creativity, ideas and managerial skills to develop and bring to a level many of newcomers in the Russian fashion industry. Sunday Up Market is working to build a stable creative platform for promotion, sales and education for a new generation of creative people that believe in their dreams and work to achieve them. Recently focusing on fundraising, Maria’s team plans to make Sunday Up Market a nationwide project with a new level of organization, communication, and support opportunities. Maria has worked as a PR manager for MTV Russia, Denis Simachev and Russian Fashion Week (head of press office).

Sri Lanka - Chathuri Samaraweera

Chathuri Samaraweera’s work reflects a contemporary outlook but stays true to her Sri Lankan heritage. She has a degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, and work experience with top labels like BCGB Max Azria and True Meaning in the US. Chathuri Launched “ANAYA”, a contemporary designer label, in 2008. The label caters to the contemporary woman with a strong sense of style and independence, conscious of the impact her purchase has on society. Chathuri also heads the design and development division of MAS Active, the leading apparel manufacturer in Sri Lanka, which caters to brands like Victoria’s Secret and Nike. Chathuri’s goal is to reposition MAS Active as an “innovative partner” that offers design to delivery solutions to their strategic customers.

Turkey - Günseli Türkay

Günseli Türkay worked as the menswear fashion designer at Mudo, which has more than 30 shops In Turkey. She then built the design department for the Dutch Brand Mexx at İstanbul for the Resource. Pasaj İstanbul, established April 2003, provides a brand consultancy and fashion design service to local and international brands, exporter manufacturers, and textile agencies. Pasaj designs collections for Zara, Best Seller and Topshop directly and through their agencies. After ten years of experience, Günseli Türkay launched her label. Günseli works with artists to transform their paintings into couture dresses. The SS2010 Collection was presented in an exciting catwalk show at İstanbul Fashion Days. Günseli has since launched in UK, Italian and Lebanese markets, in addition to Turkey.