October 29, 2021 |
There’s nothing the fashion lot love more than a night out. So, when the British Fashion Council announced that the Fashion Awards would be returning to an in-real-life event at the Royal Albert Hall this year, you could practically hear the applause from offices dotted across Central London.
Taking place November 29, in partnership with TikTok, the biggest night in fashion will celebrate the finest talent our industry has to offer, including plenty of awards, performances and cultural highlights from the last 12 months. This year’s accolades include Leaders of Change – 15 designers, brands and creatives who’ve contributed to positive change within our industry – the Outstanding Achievement Award, which will go to Tommy Hilfiger and New Wave: Creatives, which recognises the innovative talent of 50 young creatives.
On the night, the recipient of the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator will also be revealed, alongside the winner of the biggest award of the night: Designer of The Year. Those up for the coveted gong this year are:
Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga
Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson & Loewe
Kim Jones for Dior Men & Fendi
Miuccia Prada & Raf Simons for Prada
Additionally, the BFC Foundation award “recognises an emerging designer talent, who over the last 12 months has had a major creative impact on global fashion”. Nominees are chosen from the brand’s receiving financial and mentoring support from the BFC, which this year includes Bethany Williams, Bianca Saunders, Nensi Dojaka, Priya Ahluwalia and Richard Quinn.
When asked how the next generation of emerging designers can be truly impactful with their work, Bianca Saunders said: “It is important to have a directional message about how we want fashion to move forward in a way that is inclusive for everyone. We need to pass on this example.” Bethany Williams seconds this, expressing the importance of traceability and transparency. “We work within one of the largest industries in the world so therefore have the potential to create big changes within the direction of the fashion industry,” she says. “Our aim is to ensure that our impact and intentions remain authentic and genuine so I would recommend this to any emerging designers of the next generation.”
Top image: Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, photographed by Sean Zanni. The Fashion Awards take place November 29 at the Royal Albert Hall. Buy your tickets here.
