Tonight, the British Fashion Council (BFC) announced the winners of The Fashion Awards 2019 in a star-studded event. The Fashion Awards welcomed key players from the fashion industry as well as members of the public to the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The evening, hosted by award-winning American actress, CEO, and producer Tracee Ellis Ross, celebrated sixteen awards. Ten out of the sixteen awards were put out to vote to an international panel of fashion industry experts, while five Special Recognition Awards and a new Designers’ Designer Award, were voted for by BFC Designer Members. Each winner was given a unique Swarovski crystal trophy, designed by Welsh artist, Ross Lovegrove.
The Fashion Awards 2019 Winners
Award for Positive Change: Signatories of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action
Presented by: Amber Valetta & Halima Aden
Accepted by: Emmanuel Gintzburger, Alexander McQueen; Gabriele Maggio, Stella McCartney; José Neves, Farfetch; Stefan Seidel, Puma; Thierry Andretta, Mulberry and Wolfgang Blau, Condé Nast
Brand of the Year: Bottega Veneta
Presented by: Rosie Huntington Whiteley
British Emerging Talent Menswear: Bethany Williams for Bethany Williams
Presented by: Rita Ora & Liam Payne
British Emerging Talent Womenswear: Rejina Pyo for Rejina Pyo
Presented by: Bel Powley & Gugu Mbatha Raw
Special Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld
Presented by: Dame Anna Wintour and Lady Amanda Harlech
Urban Luxe: Fenty
Presented by: Tyler, the Creator & Janet Jackson
Business Leader: Remo Ruffini for Moncler
Presented by: Shailene Woodley
Fashion Icon: Naomi Campbell
Presented by: Sir Jony Ive
Accessories Designer of the Year: Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
Presented by: Karen Elson
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Sam McKnight
Presented by: Emilia Clarke
Designers’ Designer Award: Christopher Kane for Christopher Kane
Presented by: Kylie Minogue
Trailblazer Award: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
Presented by: Naomi Campbell
British Designer of the Year Menswear: Kim Jones for Dior Men
Presented by: Miguel & Kaia Gerber
Accepted by Donatella Versace
British Designer of the Year Womenswear: Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
Presented by: Emma Roberts
Model of the Year: Adut Akech
Presented by: Pierpaolo Piccioli & Edward Enninful
Designer of the Year: Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
Presented by: Naomi Watts
Outstanding Achievement Award: Giorgio Armani
Presented by: Julia Roberts & Cate Blanchett
Alongside all the celebrated awards, NEW WAVE: Creatives 2019 was given special mention by BFC Ambassador for Positive Fashion Adwoa Aboah. The category was introduced at The Fashion Awards 2018 to celebrate the young global creative community. The NEW WAVE: Creatives 2019 represent 100 of the most innovative and inspiring young creative talents from around the world. The list highlights London’s position as an international epicenter and pays homage to the incredible success of both home-grown and international talent; while celebrating all those who play a vital role in the industry’s cultural and creative reputation.
The Fashion Awards also celebrated raw creativity by hosting the Central Saint Martins, The White Show as part of this year’s ceremony. Each year the new intake of BA Fashion students is asked to create a design presented in white. This extraordinary collection is usually presented as an internal show. This year, for the first time, The White Show was brought to the Royal Albert Hall, recognizing and celebrating the first creative steps of the next generation of fashion talent from all over the world, brought together in fashion’s creative capital, London.
In celebration of Mr. Giorgio Armani’s Outstanding Achievement award, Mr. Armani presented an Armani Privé couture catwalk show to the guests as a gift to The Fashion Awards 2019 and invited long-time collaborator and music icon Eric Clapton to play the evening out.
The Fashion Awards is the main fundraiser for the BFC’s charitable and talent support work. The BFC is a not for profit organization focused on promoting excellence in British fashion and supporting the future pipeline of creative talent. The BFC’s work is achieved through a range of charitable initiatives that focus on education, business and mentoring schemes that support talent from school level, and emerging designers, to fashion start-ups and established brands. In 2018, the BFC raised over £2.3 million for its charities and business support initiatives, out of which £1.1 million will be allocated directly to scholars and designer businesses. The remaining money will go towards building an endowment to secure support for future generations.
