More than 3,000 guests, including Hollywood stars Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow, attended the 2023 Fashion Awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Monday to celebrate one of fashion’s biggest nights.
The event serves as the main fundraiser for the British Fashion Council, a not-for-profit organization that supports the British fashion industry internationally, while also celebrating the industry, which employs nearly 900,000 people and contributes more than £21bn to the UK economy. a chance.
One of the first winners of the night was British designer Sarah Burton, who was awarded a special award. In September, Burton announced he was stepping down as creative director of Alexander McQueen. During his 27-year tenure he most famously created the wedding dress of the Princess of Wales. As he accepted his award, he paid tribute to the late Lee Alexander McQueen, describing him as “the greatest designer of our generation.”
Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson received the designer of the year award, honoring both his work at his own label JW Anderson and his work as creative director of Spanish fashion house Loewe.
Valentino’s founder, Valentino Garavani, was deemed worthy of the outstanding achievement award. Known for his elegant haute couture dresses, Garavani was a favorite designer of Elizabeth Taylor and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis throughout the 60s. The striking red hue it created became known as “Valentino red.”
The 91-year-old, now retired, sold the brand to Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli for $300 million (£237 million) in 1998. It is currently controlled by Qatari group Mayhoola, and last July Kering bought a 30% stake in Valentino for €1.7bn (£1.5bn).
The late British designer Joe Casely-Hayford was also honored with a special posthumous award. Casely-Hayford, who died in 2019, was known for her stylish tailoring that combined tradition with modern streetwear influences. His suits have been worn by The Clash, Bono, Drake and Gordon Brown, making him one of the first black British designers to gain international acclaim, although it has been argued that his talent is only now being fully recognised.
Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, described Casely-Hayford as “one of the most talented and groundbreaking designers of our time”.
“It catapulted London’s reputation as a fashion and cultural center onto the global stage and paved the way for generations of designers,” he said. The Casely-Hayford brand is currently run by her son Charlie, who accepted the award with his sister Alice.
British fashion journalist and US Vogue critic Sarah Mower was given a special recognition award for supporting young designer talent. Mower played a key role in raising the profile of young designers in Britain, including Christopher Kane, Erdem and Anderson. Earlier this year she curated the Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion event at London’s Design Museum, which explored how London became one of the four great fashion capitals.
British Vogue’s outgoing editor-in-chief Edward Enninful was honored with the pioneer award. Enninful, who left his post as editor in March, will be replaced by Chioma Nnadi, the former editor of the US edition’s website.
Nnadi presented the British womenswear designer of the year award to Maximilian Davis, the creative director of the Italian Ferragamo brand, while the British menswear designer of the year award was given to Martine Rose for the eponymous label she started in London in 2007.
Other award winners of the night included singer Sam Smith, who received the cultural innovator award, British-Ghanaian actor and director Michaela Coel, who was given the Pandora leader of change award by Pamela Anderson, and Paloma Elsesser, who was awarded the first award. The plus size model won the model of the year award.
Emerging talents were also supported. British-Jamaican designer Bianca Saunders was awarded the new establishment award in menswear, recognizing her cross-cultural approach to design. London-based design duo Chopova Lowena, who create pieces using Deadstock materials and traditional craft techniques, took home the new foundation womenswear award.
London-born photographer and director Campbell Addy won the Isabella Blow award in the fashion creator category. Previous winners include Showstudio’s Nick Knight and makeup artist Pat McGrath. Graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2016, Addy quickly became one of the fashion industry’s most sought-after photographers.
She’s attracted the likes of Beyoncé and FKA, and her work has become known for challenging traditional notions of beauty and giving voice to the stories of the black and queer communities.