British Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Honored for Impactful Career in Shaping Fashion and Culture
The British Fashion Council (BFC) proudly announces that Edward Enninful OBE, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue and European Editorial Director of Vogue, will be presented with the esteemed Trailblazer Award at The Fashion Awards 2023. The ceremony, organized by the BFC, is set to take place on December 4th at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London, presented by Pandora.
Enninful will be recognized for his trailblazing contributions to the fashion industry, acknowledging his transformative career as a stylist, editor, and creative director. Beginning as a model and styling assistant, Enninful’s groundbreaking journey led him to become the youngest-ever Fashion Director of i-D at the age of 18. His influential work, marked by provocative elegance and radical narratives, continued at American Vogue and Vogue Italia, showcasing collaborations with renowned photographer Steven Meisel.
In 2011, Enninful assumed the role of Fashion and Style Director of W Magazine, where he revitalized the magazine’s cultural relevance and was later awarded an OBE for his services to diversity in the fashion industry. Currently serving as the European Editorial Director of Vogue and the first black Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, Enninful has challenged traditional beauty standards and reshaped the fashion media landscape through his iconic editions.
Throughout his six years as Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, Enninful has championed diversity, featured impactful talents, and addressed crucial societal issues with editions like “Fashion Now,” “Reframing Fashion,” “The New Front Line,” “The New Supers,” and “The Supers.” His covers consistently spotlight strong women and changemakers, including Greta Thunberg, Judi Dench, Miriam Margolyes, Oprah Winfrey, and Rihanna.
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, expresses excitement about honoring Enninful, stating, “We are thrilled to honor Edward Enninful with the Trailblazer Award for his immense contributions to the fashion industry. Enninful is a highly influential figure, with his groundbreaking work and collaborations transcending fashion and profoundly impacting wider culture.”
The Trailblazer Award, celebrating innovators and creatives shaping the industry, joins previous winners Alessandro Michele, Kim Jones, and Sarah Burton. The Fashion Awards, hosted in London, serve as the primary fundraiser for the BFC Foundation, supporting the future growth of the British fashion industry through education, grant-giving, and business mentoring. In the financial year 2022/2023, the BFC remitted over £1.2m in funds to designers and scholars.