Arts & Design
British Fashion Council Foundation
Established in 2020, the British Fashion Council Foundation brings together all of the British Fashion Council’s charitable initiatives under one umbrella. The charity, of which Narmina Marandi is Co-Chair, supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry through education, grant giving, industry workshops, business mentoring and the Institute of Positive Fashion, which aims to create a new bar of accountability within the industry. The world-leading foundation aims to improve equality and opportunity, helping designers at every stage of their career.
In her role as Co-Chair, Narmina is responsible for fundraising, building a global network to support British talent and developing the foundation’s Individual Patronage Programme and International Advisory Committee.
The Conran Shop & Marandi Foundation Award for Designer of the Future
In 2021, the Marandi Foundation, in partnership with The Conran Shop, sponsored the inaugural ‘The Conran Shop & Marandi Foundation Award for Designer of the Future’ at the prestigious New Designers Awards. The New Designers Awards are the UK’s most important exhibition for emerging design talent in the UK. The award itself recognises exceptional potential, empowering the winner with tools needed to accelerate their route to success through a unique combination of financial support, professional industry expertise and business mentorship.
Narmina Marandi was a judge on the 2021 panel alongside senior members of The Conran Shop team and renowned guest judges from the design industry.
The Watercolour World
The Marandi Foundation wholly funds The Watercolour World, a charity which provides free online access to documentary watercolours painted before 1900. Over the centuries, painters – both professionals and amateur – created hundreds of thousands of images recording life as they witnessed it. Every one of these paintings has a story to tell, but many are hidden away in archives, albums and store rooms, too fragile to display. The Watercolour World exists to bring them back into view.
Javad Marandi is Chairman of the charity’s advisory board and Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, are patrons of The Watercolour World.
Serpentine Galleries
The Marandi Foundation provides core funding to the Serpentine Galleries to help ensure they remain free to the public. The Serpentine Galleries – in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park – are among London’s most popular cultural destinations, championing new ideas in contemporary art. The Serpentine has been presenting pioneering exhibitions for half a century from a wide range of emerging practitioners to the most celebrated and internationally recognised artists of our time.
Narmina Marandi is a member of the Council of the Serpentine Galleries and Co-Head of the Cultural and Social Affairs Committee.