by LONDON — The Fashion Awards, the annual fundraising extravaganza hosted by the British Fashion Council, is set to return on Monday night at the Royal Albert Hall with a host of celebrities and designers in attendance.
On Friday, as it was revealed that British singer Sam Smith will accept the Cultural Innovator Award on stage, the non-binary artist is almost certain to create a memorable red carpet moment unlike the dramatic latex ensemble designed by Harri who wore Smith. to the BRIT Awards earlier this year.
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In recent years, Smith has become more famous for her bold and experimental fashion sense, as well as her Grammy-winning album.
The Culture Innovator Award was created to celebrate a leading figure in the entertainment industry who has created viral fashion moments over the years that have had a major impact on the fashion industry and wider culture.
Caroline Rush, chief executive officer at the British Fashion Council, said Smith was “a true cultural innovator who fearlessly pushed the boundaries of both fashion and entertainment and inspired restless people around the world to embrace themselves.”
“Smith’s fresh and unapologetic style choices have led the industry in 2023 and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support of UK designers,” she said.
As well as endorsing Harri, a brand backed by funding from BFC Newgen’s new talent programme, Smith’s other recent fashion highlights include her all-red Valentino ensemble for the 65th Grammy Awards, an embellished golden corset by Ed Marler they wore during their. “Gloria” Tour, as well as musical performances during runway shows for Harris Reed and Christian Cowan.
Smith will be one of many big stars in attendance at the annual fundraising gala for the BFC Foundation. The event aims to highlight creative talent, and examine the past year in fashion through the lens of “reason, excellence and creativity”.
The BFC Foundation is a charity that supports education, grant making and business mentoring. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the BFC said it had awarded more than £1.2 million in funding to designers and students.
British Ghanaian actress Michaela Coel, with blockbusters such as “I May Destroy You” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” under her belt, has been named the recipient of the Pandora Leader of Change Award.
Pandora ambassador Pamela Anderson will present her award. Pandora is the main sponsor of this year’s fundraising fashion extravaganza.
Campbell Addy, the photographer, director and publisher, will receive the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator at the Fashion Awards.
The Isabella Blow Fashion Creator Award is intended to recognize fashion innovators and creatives who have helped change the fashion landscape. Previous winners include Ib Kamara, Katie Grand, Amanda Harlech, Mert & Marcus, Nick Knight, Pat McGrath, Louise Wilson and Sam McKnight.
Edward Enninful, who is stepping down as editor of British Vogue next year to become Vogue’s global creative and cultural adviser, will take home the Trailblazer Award.
The Trailblazer Award was created in 2018 to celebrate leading innovators and creatives in fashion, whose work over the past year has significantly shaped the industry. Kim Jones, artistic director of Dior menswear and artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and women’s fur collections at Fendi, took home the honor that year.
Make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury will receive the Special Recognition Award. The BFC will also honor the late designer Joe Casely-Hayford with a new scholarship and a posthumous Special Recognition Award.
For honors dedicated to fashion designers, the designers nominated for the Designer of the Year award are Jonathan Anderson, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, Daniel Lee, Matthieu Blazy and Sarah Burton.
Designer Valentino Garavani will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award.
The award recognizes the creative contribution of an individual to the fashion industry, who “continually shapes and reshapes the world of fashion through their innovation and creativity,” according to the BFC.
Previous winners include Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada, Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, Terry and Tricia Jones and Manolo Blahnik to name but a few.
Maya Jama, the British TV presenter best known for the dating game show “Love Island,” will host the 2023 Fashion Awards alongside musician Kojey Radical. Meanwhile, former celebrity stylist Law Roach will host the red carpet coverage.
Below is the full list of nominees.
Designer of the Year
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Daniel Lee for Burberry
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Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and Loewe
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Matthieu Blazy for Bottega Veneta
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Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons for Prada
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Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
BFC Foundation
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Aaron Eys
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Chet Lo
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Sinéad O’Dwyer
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Conner Ives
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Paolo Carzana
Model of the Year
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Alton Mason
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Anok Yai
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Kai-Isaiah Jamal
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Liu Wen
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Mona Tugaard
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Paloma Elsesser
British Menswear Designer of the Year
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Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner
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Kiko Kostadinov for Kiko Kostadinov
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Kim Jones for Dior Men
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Martine Rose for Martine Rose
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Steven Stokey-Daley for SS Daley
British Womenswear Designer of the Year
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Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem
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Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo
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Nancy Dojaka for Nancy Dojaka
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Roksanda Ilinčić for Roksanda
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Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
New Menswear Foundation
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Bianca Saunders
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Cortez
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Labrum London
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Nicholas Daley
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Saul Nash
New Foundation Women’s Clothing
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Chopova Lowena
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Dilara Fındıkoğlu
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Barns
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Robert Wun
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Supriya Lele
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