The Fashion Awards, known as the British Fashion Awards until 2016, is an annual ceremony established in the United Kingdom in 1989 to showcase both British and international individuals and businesses who have made the most outstanding contributions to the fashion industry during the year. The ceremony is organized by the British Fashion Council, and is the primary fundraiser for the BFC's Education Foundation; a charity that promotes excellence in design by financially supporting students with the ability and potential to make an exceptional contribution to the fashion industry.
History Originally named the British Fashion Awards, the first Fashion Awards ceremony took place on 17 October 1989 and was attended by Princess Diana, who wore a Catherine Walker gown (Elvis dress) especially for the occasion.
In 2010 four-time winner of British Designer of the Year award, Alexander McQueen received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design in recognition of his illustrious career.
In 2007 the Fashion Creator Award is renamed Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator in honour of Isabella Blow, who died on 7 May 2007. Blow was renowned for her unerring support of British designers and for her contribution to the international fashion industry as a whole.
Award categories
Designer of the Year Recognises an international designer whose innovative collections have made a notable impact on the industry.
Accessories Designer of the Year
Business Leader This award will not acknowledge any CEO or president of a fashion company who has guided both its creative direction and commercial performance over the past year.
Urban Luxe Award Celebrating the innovation and influence of a contemporary apparel brand.
British Emerging Talent - Womenswear Recognising new British womenswear talent, this award celebrates a British-based womenswear or accessories designer who over the last 12 months has had a major creative impact on global fashion.
British Emerging Talent - Menswear Honoring rising talent in British menswear, this award highlights the innovation and creative impact of a UK-based menswear or accessories designer, whose collections have attracted global recognition this year.
British Designer of the Year - Womenswear Celebrating a British womenswear designer that has been instrumental in innovating and leading women's fashion over the last year.
British Designer of the Year - Menswear Recognises a leading British menswear designer.
Model of the Year Recognises the global impact of a model, male or female.
Outstanding achievement The Outstanding Achievement Award celebrates the creative contribution of an individual to the fashion industry.
Swarovski Award for Positive Change The Swarovski Award for Positive Change recognises and celebrates brands or individuals who promote the welfare of others and generously use their resources to benefit good causes.
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator Recognising innovators and creatives in fashion.
2020s Special Categories In 2020, the British Fashion Awards were broken down into only four categories - Community, Creativity, Environment and People. Five people won each award. In 2021, normal categories resumed, with the addition of awards for fifteen "Leaders of Change" in the fashion industry. In 2022, the "Leaders of Change" award remained, but the normal categories were replaced with Model of the Year, Designer of the Year, Independent British Brand, and BFC Foundation Award.
Awards Winners
2025 Designer of the Year Jonathan Anderson for Dior and JW AndersonBritish Womenswear Designer of the YearSarah Burton for GivenchyBritish Menswear Designer of the YearGrace Wales Bonner for Wales BonnerThe Vanguard AwardDilara Findikoğlu for Dilara FindikoğluSpecial WinnerChanelModel of the YearAnok YaiIsabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorRei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe and Dickon BowdenSpecial Recognition Award for 15 Years of BFC Fashion Trust and Tania FaresBFC Fashion Trust accepted by Tania FaresSpecial Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Fashion IndustryDelphine ArnaultOutstanding Achievement AwardBrunello CucinelliCostume Designer of the Year AwardKate HawleySpecial Recognition Award for 25 Years of Fashion EastLulu Kennedy and Raphaelle MooreCultural Innovator AwardLittle SimzPandora Style Moment of the Year AwardSam WoolfPosthumous Outstanding Contribution to Fashion AwardMelanie Ward accepted by Corinne Smith
2024 Award Nominated Designer of the Year Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and LoeweBritish Menswear Designer of the YearGrace Wales Bonner for Wales BonnerBritish Womenswear Designer of the YearSimone Rocha for Simone RochaBritish Accessories BrandStephen Jones for Stephen JonesNew Establishment MenswearPriya Ahluwalia for AhluwaliaNew Establishment WomenswearMarco Capaldo for 16ARLINGTONModel of the YearAlex ConsaniIsabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorTyler MitchellSpecial Recognition AwardDame Margaret BarbourSpecial Recognition AwardSophia Neophitou-ApostolouOutstanding Achievement AwardTom FordBFC Foundation AwardChopova LowenaSpecial Recognition AwardGucci (Nan Goldin)Trailblazer AwardRemo RuffiniPandora Leader of Change AwardIssa Rae 2023 Award Nominated Designer of the Year Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and Loewe BFC Foundation AwardConner Ives British Menswear Designer of the YearMartine Rose for Martine RoseBritish Womenswear Designer of the YearMaximilian Davis for FerragamoNew Establishment - MenswearBianca SaundersNew Establishment - WomenswearChopova LowenaModel of the YearPaloma ElsesserSpecial Recognition Award for Championing Young Designer TalentSarah Mower (winner)Outstanding Achievement AwardValentino GaravaniSpecial Recognition AwardSarah BurtonPosthumous Special Recognition AwardJoe Casely-HayfordSpecial Recognition Award for Contribution to the Fashion IndustryCharlotte TilburyTrailblazer AwardEdward EnninfulIsabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorCampbell AddyPandora Leader of Change AwardMichaela CoelCultural Innovator AwardSam Smith
2022 Award Winner Designer of the YearPierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino BFC Foundation AwardS.S. Daley Independent British Designer AwardWales Bonner Isabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorKatie GrandMetaverse World & Gaming Experience AwardBurberryModel of the YearBella HadidOutstanding Achievement AwardYvon Chouinard Special Recognition Award for Cultural CurationJefferson HackLeaders of ChangeCreativityAlessandro MicheleDaniel RoseberryHarris ReedIbrahim KamaraRaf SimonsEnvironmentBethany WilliamsConnor IvesGabriela HearstMarine SerrePriya AhluwaliaPeopleAurora JamesHarry LambertJulie PelipasSinéad BurkeRafael Pavarotti
2021 Award Winner Designer of the YearKim Jones for Dior Men and Fendi BFC Foundation AwardNensi Dojaka Independent British Designer AwardSimone Rocha for Simone Rocha Isabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorIb KamaraOutstanding Achievement AwardTommy Hilfiger Special Recognition AwardDylan Jones Trailblazer AwardAlessandro MicheleLeaders of ChangeCreativityAlessandro MicheleDemna GvasaliaJonathon AndersonKim JonesVirgil Abloh (posthumous)EnvironmentAhluwaliaBethany WilliamsGabriela HearstPhoebe EnglishStella McCartneyPeopleEdward EnninfulHarris ReedKenya HuntSamuel RossTelfar Clemens
2020 Award WinnerCommunityA Sai TaChanelEmergency Designer NetworkKenneth IzeMichael HalpernCreativityGrace Wales BonnerJonathan AndersonKim JonesPrada, Miuccia Prada, and Raf SimonsRiccardo Tisci and BurberryEnvironmentAnya HindmarchChristopher RaeburnGabriela HearstStella McCartneyThe Fashion PactPeopleAurora JamesEdward EnnifulLindsay Peoples Wagner and Sandrine Charles for the Black in Fashion CouncilPriya AhluwaliaSamuel Ross
2019 Award Winner Designer of the YearDaniel Lee for Bottega Veneta Accessories Designer of the YearDaniel Lee for Bottega Veneta Business LeaderRemo Ruffini for Moncler Urban Luxe AwardFenty Model of the YearAdut Akech British Emerging Talent - WomenswearRejina Pyo for Rejina Pyo British Emerging Talent - MenswearBethany Williams for Bethany Williams British Designer of the Year - WomenswearDaniel Lee for Bottega Veneta British Designer of the Year - MenswearKim Jones for Dior Homme Outstanding Achievement AwardGiorgio Armani Award For Positive ChangeSignatories of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action launched at UN Convention on Climate Change Isabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorSam McKnight Brand of the YearBottega Veneta Fashion IconNaomi Campbell Trailblazer AwardSarah Burton OBE
2018 Award Winner Designer of the YearPierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino Accessories Designer of the YearDemna Gvasalia for Balenciaga Business LeaderMarco Bizzarri for Gucci Urban Luxe AwardVirgil Abloh for Off-White Model of the YearKaia Gerber British Emerging Talent - WomenswearRichard Quinn for Richard Quinn British Emerging Talent - MenswearSamuel Ross for A-COLD-WALL British Designer of the Year - WomenswearClare Waight Keller for Givenchy British Designer of the Year - MenswearCraig Green for CRAIG GREEN Outstanding Achievement AwardMiuccia Prada Swarovski Award for Positive ChangeDame Vivienne Westwood Isabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorMert and Marcus Brand of the YearGucci Special Recognition Award for InnovationParley for the Oceans 2018 TrailblazerKim Jones
2017 Award Winner Designer of the YearRaf Simons for Calvin Klein Accessories Designer of the YearJonathan Anderson for Loewe Business LeaderMarco Bizzarri for Gucci Urban Luxe AwardOff-White Model of the YearNaomi Campbell British Emerging Talent - WomenswearMichael Halpern for Halpern British Emerging Talent - MenswearCharles Jeffrey for Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY British Designer of the Year - WomenswearJonathan Anderson for JW Anderson British Designer of the Year - MenswearCraig Green for CRAIG GREEN Outstanding Contribution to British Fashion AwardChristopher Bailey MBE Swarovski Award for Positive ChangeMaria Grazia Chiuri for Dior Isabella Blow Award for Fashion CreatorPat McGrath MBE Fashion Icon & Artistic DirectorDonatella Versace Special Recognition Award for InnovationStella McCartney OBE
2016 Award Winner British Menswear Designer of the Year Craig Green for Craig Green British Womenswear Designer of the Year Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha British Emerging Talent Molly Goddard The Swarovski Award for Positive Change Franca Sozzani Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator Bruce Weber Special Recognition 100 Years of British Vogue British Brand Alexander McQueen International Business Leader Marco Bizzarri for Gucci International Urban Luxury Brand Vetements by Guram Gvasalia International Accessories Designer Alessandro Michele for Gucci International Ready-to-Wear Designer Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga International Model Gigi Hadid New Fashion Icon Jaden & Willow Smith Outstanding Achievement Ralph Lauren
2015 Award Winner Menswear Designer of The Year JW Anderson Womenswear Designer of The Year JW Anderson Emerging Womenswear Designer Thomas Tait Emerging Menswear Designer Grace Wales Bonner Emerging Accessory Designer Jordan Askill Red Carpet Tom Ford Model Jourdan Dunn Outstanding Achievement Award Karl Lagerfeld Creative Campaign Burberry International Designer Alessandro Michele for Gucci New Establishment Designer Mary Katrantzou Establishment Designer Erdem Brand Stella McCartney Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator Nick Knight British Style - Red Carpet Ambassador Gwendoline Christie British Style - Fashion Innovator FKA Twigs Accessory Designer Charlotte Olympia
2014