LONDON — What could be more British than Jonathan Anderson, Charlotte Tilbury and Martine Rose winning awards on a rainy winter’s evening at the Royal Albert Hall?
Monday’s very British weather provided a fitting backdrop for the Fashion Awards, an evening aimed at celebrating the country’s talent – and international ones too.
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Among the latter was Valentino Garavani, who won the Outstanding Achievement Award. His long-time friend and business partner Giancarlo Giammetti accepted the award from Gwyneth Paltrow, who came to London for the occasion.
The event was a mix of high and low culture, with the evening hosted by Maya Jama, best known as presenter of the ITV2 show ‘Love Island’, and singer-songwriter KJ Radical. The guest list included Jodie Comer, Taylor Russell, Andrew Garfield, Marina Abramović and Amal Clooney.
There was also a big dose of fun – which was missing on stage last year.
Josh O’Connor presented Anderson with his Designer of the Year award, the biggest of the evening.
“When I looked tonight, I saw my life before my eyes,” the designer said as he accepted his award for his work on JW Anderson and Loewe, owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
O’Connor is the face of the brand’s Spring 2024 pre-collection campaign and wore a black tailored suit from Loewe.
Sarah Burton, who left her position at Alexander McQueen in September, where she spent her entire career, received the Special Recognition Award from Edward Enninful, the outgoing editor-in-chief of British Vogue.
“For me, McQueen was always about feelings. It is often said by many people that you will never forget how people made you feel,” said an emotional Burton, wearing one of her own designs with Levi’s jeans.
British-Ghanaian actress and writer Michaela Coel received the Pandora Leader of Change Award, presented by Pandora Ambassador Pamela Anderson, who walked the red carpet in all-white trousers and jacket – and no makeup.
Coel, whose stylist is Georgia Medley, wore a custom white strappy crop top and long skirt by Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo.
“The system may have failed me, but maybe it will work out for someone else somewhere. I want to thank my audience, because through your openness to allow my work to change you, you have given meaning to my pain,” said the actress and screenwriter in a powerful speech in which she addressed her experience with sexual violence. depicted in the show she wrote and starred in, ‘I May Destroy You’.
Sam Smith accepted the Cultural Innovator Award on stage from actor and writer Lena Dunham. They also gave a special performance with a choir.
The non-binary artist showed up in a memorable red carpet outfit: a voluminous black tulle gown designed by Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood, which made as much noise as their dramatic Latex ensemble designed by Harri that Smith wore to the British Awards. year.
“Two years ago I remember telling my family and friends that it was a dream of mine to one day stand on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall in a dress and sing my heart out,” said the pop star.
“There is no clothing in the world that fits as well as freedom,” she added.
91-year-old Valentino Garavani won for his ‘groundbreaking couture creations’ and red carpet dresses. His old friend Paltrow presented Giammetti with the award.
Referring to Valentino, she said: “He always asked me about Hollywood, especially the men I dated; he never really approved of anyone until he met my husband Brad Falchuk. And he hated that I didn’t like wearing red. So tonight I’m wearing red for Mr. Valentino.’
Giammetti accepted the award on behalf of Valentino and pledged £200,000 for British fashion students.
“I know exactly what it means to start a business. It’s so hard and so stressful for everyone around you,” he said before a short fashion show that highlighted Valentino’s most famous designs in the designer’s signature red.
London-born Tilbury took to the stage in a sparkling black dress with her signature strawberry-colored hair to receive her Special Recognition Award from Clooney, who wore a strapless Atelier Versace sequin dress.
“I booked her for my makeup trial for my wedding and I was stunned because she showed up at my front door with five huge suitcases of products,” the international human rights lawyer said.
In her speech, Tilbury thanked Kate Moss, Tom Ford, Mert and Marcus, Katie Grand, Mario Testino, Mary Greenwell and the late Hugh Devlin, the long-time lawyer for members of the British fashion industry, who died in October.
“Makeup has the power to change our energy, to give us the confidence to live a life without limits and pursue our biggest, boldest dreams,” says the makeup artist.
Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC, had previously said that what is special about this year’s nominees is that they are a “true representation of British creative energy and its impact on the fashion industry worldwide.”
“We invited key press and buyers with in-depth knowledge of the sector to create the shortlist of nominees and the list of selected names illustrates the wealth and range of design talent currently coming out of Britain,” she added .
Two categories were introduced at this year’s awards ceremony: New Establishment Menswear and New Establishment Womenswear, which aim to showcase emerging talent.
Bianca Saunders took the gong for New Establishment Menswear and thanked her colleagues and family.
“I remember being 19 and getting tickets to see all these amazing designers being celebrated,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chopova Lowena was awarded the New Establishment Womenswear award.
Another young British winner of the evening was Davis, who won British Womenswear Designer of the Year for his work at Ferragamo, a position he has held since March last year.
“I would like to thank my CEO Marco Gobbetti for trusting me with such a great brand,” said the young designer.
In the men’s category, Martine Rose won the award for British Menswear Designer of the Year for her own label presented. The award was presented to her by rapper and singer Little Simz.
The winner of Model of the Year was Paloma Elsesser, who walked for Balenciaga, Michael Kors and Chloé last year.
Campbell Addy, the photographer, director and publisher, received the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator. It was hosted by Ib Kamara and Jourdan Dunn, who looked like Nefertiti in her black velvet dress with an Egyptian-style headdress.
“Please have the courage to change minds and create new worlds to push boundaries so that the conversation can move forward so that the next generations can thrive and learn from them too,” Addy said.
The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator aims to recognize innovators and creatives in fashion who have helped change the fashion landscape. Previous winners include Ib Kamara, Katie Grand, Amanda Harlech, Mert and Marcus, Nick Knight, Pat McGrath, Louise Wilson and Sam McKnight.
Enninful, who will begin his role as global creative and cultural advisor to Vogue next year, took home the Trailblazer Award, presented by Comer and Croydon-born artist Stormzy.
“You’re probably tired of seeing me here,” Enninful said.
He added: “We saw big changes in Britain at the time [he took his helm]. It felt like the stars aligned to channel this into the pages of British Vogue.”
Enninful thanked Dame Judi Dench, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Olivia Colman and the Newhouse family.
Conner Ives has received the BFC Foundation Award, a charity that supports education, grants and business mentoring. In the 2022-2023 financial year, the BFC said it had transferred more than £1.2 million in funding to designers and scientists.
The BFC honored the late designer Joe Casely-Hayford with a new scholarship and posthumous special recognition collected by the designer’s son, Charlie.
The BFC Foundation Joe Casely-Hayford MA Scholarship 2023-24 provides funding to students of Black and mixed heritage. They must have an offer from, or be studying towards, an MA at a BFC member university in Great Britain. This year’s recipient is Taya Francis.
The scholarship aims to highlight Casely-Hayford’s contributions to the industry and recognize Black British culture and its influence on wider British culture.
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