New York has the Met Gala, Los Angeles has the Oscars, and London? We have the Fashion Awards, the glitziest night this side of the Atlantic, and for a very good cause. The annual ceremony celebrates the industry’s boldest, brightest talents while raising funds for the BFC Foundation, and last night alone it generated more than £1 million to support the future of British fashion.
Held at the Royal Albert Hall, which provides quite a backdrop for the step-and-repeat, it's an occasion that not only kick-starts party season in style—the ceremony is held on 1 December—but showcases the creativity, energy and ingenuity of this country's fashion industry, a business that contributes £21 billion to the economy, according to the British Fashion Council.
But while the red carpet served its fair share of high-octane glamour—not to mention a strategic marketing moment courtesy of the upcoming H&M x Stella McCartney collaboration—it’s the award winners who truly deserved the spotlight.
Scroll on for the full list of awards and winners.
The winners...
Designer of the Year
"Recognises a British or international designer whose innovative collections and campaigns over the last year have made a notable impact on the industry, defining the shape of global fashion."
Winner: Jonathan Anderson for Dior and JW Anderson
British Womenswear Designer of the Year
"This award recognises a leading British womenswear designer or business who has consistently made a global impact with their innovative and creative designs, shaping the burgeoning international womenswear landscape."
Winner: Sarah Burton for Givenchy
British Menswear Designer of the Year
"This award recognises a leading British menswear designer who has consistently made a global impact with their innovative and creative designs, shaping the burgeoning international menswear landscape."
Winner: Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner
The Vanguard Award
"This award recognises a designer at the forefront of a new wave in British fashion. The recipient will have demonstrated visionary creativity, cultural leadership and global influence, helping to shape the future of fashion."
Winner: Dilara Findikoğlu for Dilara Findikoğlu
Pe-announced winners...
Some winners, however, were announced before the big night, including:
Model of the Year - Anok Yai
"This Award recognises the global impact of a model who over the last 12 months has dominated the industry. With an influence that transcends the catwalk, the Model of The Year has made an outstanding contribution to the industry, garnering numerous editorial and advertising campaigns throughout the year."
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator - Rei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe and Dickon Bowden
"Rei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe and Dickon Bowden are recognised for their incredible contribution to the global fashion industry through the establishment of Dover Street Market (DSM)."
Special Recognition Award - Delphine Arnault
"The Special Recognition Award honours outstanding contribution to the fashion industry."
Outstanding Achievement Award - Brunello Cucinelli
"The Outstanding Achievement Award celebrates the creative contribution of an individual, who throughout their career has constantly shaped and reshaped the fashion world through their innovation and creativity. Previous winners of the Award include Tom Ford, Mr. Valentino, Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada, Ralph Lauren and Karl Lagerfeld."
Cultural Innovator Award - Little Simz
"The Cultural Innovator Award celebrates a leading innovator and imagemaker in the entertainment industry, who over the course of the year has had a profound impact on the fashion industry and wider culture."
Pandora Style Moment of the Year - Sam Woolf
"The Pandora Style Moment of the Year Award celebrates a stylist behind fashion or entertainment moments that have left a lasting mark on culture, innovation and influence."
Plus, another award was given honouring the tireless work of Fashion East, the industry's talent incubator that has all but ensured the success of some of the global fashion industry's most illustrious names for 25 years: Jonathan Anderson, Simone Rocha, Roksanda Ilincic, the list goes on. Presented to its powerhouse duo, Lulu Kennedy and Raphaelle Moore, it's the Special Recognition Award for 25 Years of Fashion East. The BFC Foundation is also going to double its support over the next three years for Fashion East, an investment which, no doubt, will pay dividends among the next-gen talent who are, quite literally, the future of fashion.
