The British Fashion Council hosted its annual The Fashion Awards last
night (December 3) at the Royal Albert Hall in London and luxury Italian
label Bottega Veneta was the big winner of the evening, scooping four
awards.
2019 certainly belongs to British fashion designer Daniel Lee, who was
named Accessories Designer of the Year, British Womenswear Designer of the
Year and Designer of the Year, for his work as creative director at Bottega
Veneta, which has received critical acclaim since his debut in February.
The Italian label, which has seen its slip-on leather heels become the
hottest fashion item on Instagram, also took home Brand of the Year to win
all four categories it was nominated in, beating off the likes of Gucci,
Jacquemus, Loewe and Prada.
In the British Menswear Designer of the Year category, Kim Jones for
Dior Men scooped the accolade against tough competition from Craig Green,
Riccardo Tisci and Martine Rose, while Bethany Williams won the British
Emerging Talent – Menswear Award, and London Fashion Week favourite Rejina
Pyo received the British Emerging Talent – Womenswear Award.
There was also a win for Rihanna, the singer-turned-fashion and beauty
entrepreneur won the Urban Luxe award for Fenty, and Christopher Kane was
award the Designers’ Designer Award, a new accolade from the British
Fashion Council to coincide with its new membership scheme.
View this post onRemo Ruffini for Moncler accepted the Business Leader Award, while Adut
Akech won Model of the Year, Sam McKnight picked up the Isabella Blow Award
for Fashion Creator for his “invaluable contribution to the fashion
industry” and supermodel Naomi Campbell was recognised for her career and
philanthropist work with the Fashion Icon award.The Fashion Awards names 2019 winners – Daniel Lee, Rihanna, Bethany
Williams and Rejina PyoThere was also a special award for Alexander McQueen creative director,
Sarah Burton. The British designer was honoured with the Trailblazer Award
for what the British Fashion Council calls “her most personal and visionary
work to date through her narrative approach to the Alexander McQueen
spring/summer 2020 show and for her extraordinary work in championing
UK-wide craftsmanship, highlighting skills important to the brand and
essential to the industry”.Caroline Rush, British Fashion Council chief executive, added in a
statement: “Sarah’s empowering and narrative approach to shows and her
focus on community and appreciation of craft, technology and British
heritage is what has made her one of the most respected designers of our
time.“Her commitment to sharing her vision and expertise with the future
generations of fashion designers has been remarkable.”View this post onClick Here: true religion jean short
The annual fundraiser ended with a Giorgio Armani catwalk show, after
which the legendary designer received the Outstanding Achievement Award
from Hollywood actresses Julia Roberts and Cate Blanchett.Armani, follows in the footsteps of Miuccia Prada, Ralph Lauren, Karl
Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, Terry and Tricia Jones and Manolo Blahnik in
receiving the honour, and was chosen for his “outstanding contribution to
the global fashion industry, his creativity and vision of timeless style
and care for detail, that have provided such inspiration to so many in the
industry,” said the British Fashion Council.The event also celebrated the Signatories of The Fashion Industry
Charter for Climate Action, convened and facilitated by the UN Climate
Change, who were awarded the Positive Change award.In addition, going forward the British Fashion Council added that they
will work with United Nations Office for Partnerships to recognise those
making a distinct impact which sits in line with the Sustainable
Development Goals.Rush, added: “This year has been a catalyst to set leadership and
industry-wide international collaboration like never before. With the Award
for Positive Change, we want to recognise those businesses who mobilised
our industry in as little as a year. We know that alongside the signatories
of The Fashion Industry Charter, there are many great initiatives globally
already in action – and our aim at the BFC is to continue to work in
support of the United Nations in celebrating those that are setting new
standards upholding the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Celebrating
those businesses that have joined the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate
Action and working collaboratively to find climate solutions is just the
start.”The Fashion Awards is the main fundraiser for the British Fashion
Council, a not for profit organisation focused on promoting excellence in
British fashion and supporting the future pipeline of creative talent. In
2018, the British Fashion Council raised over 2.3 million pounds for its
charities and business support initiatives out of which 1.1 million pounds
will be allocated directly to scholars and designer businesses.Images: courtesy of Bottega Veneta/The Fashion Awards