From designers shaping global trends to models and cultural innovators, the year’s top talent is honoured
The 2025 Fashion Awards spotlighted the defining voices of today’s global fashion landscape, balancing bold innovation with enduring influence. At the helm was Jonathan Anderson, awarded Designer of the Year for his work at Dior and JW Anderson—two labels that continue to shape conversations around craft, identity, and commerce at the highest level. The accolade affirms Anderson’s unique position as both a cultural provocateur and strategic force across the industry’s most-watched stages.
In British categories, Sarah Burton was recognized as British Womenswear Designer of the Year for her work at Givenchy, where she’s quietly redefining the house’s codes in a post-McQueen context. Grace Wales Bonner earned British Menswear Designer of the Year, affirming her position as a leader in international menswear and a designer whose thoughtful, culturally resonant work continues to raise the bar.
Emerging visionaries were also front and center. The Vanguard Award went to Dilara Fındıkoğlu, whose unapologetically bold designs have injected new energy into British fashion. Kate Hawley received Costume Designer of the Year for her work on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, drawing attention to the growing convergence of fashion and cinema.
The Model of the Year honor was awarded to Anok Yai, whose commanding editorial presence and campaign portfolio have helped redefine contemporary beauty ideals. Meanwhile, Little Simz was named Cultural Innovator of the Year, cementing the role of artists and imagemakers in shaping fashion’s narrative from beyond the runway.
The awards also paid tribute to institutions and leaders with long-standing industry impact. Chanel was honored for its 100-year presence in the UK, a reminder of luxury’s evolving legacy in a local context. Rei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe, and Dickon Bowden were jointly recognized with the Isabella Blow Award for their work establishing Dover Street Market—a platform that continues to define multi-brand retail as experimental space and incubator.
Delphine Arnault received a Special Recognition Award for her contributions to fashion, while Brunello Cucinelli was given the Outstanding Achievement Award, joining a lineage of honorees who have shaped the luxury sector through creativity and long-term vision.
Tania Fares accepted a Special Recognition Award for 15 years of the BFC Fashion Trust, underscoring the power of philanthropic patronage in nurturing emerging talent. Fashion East, led by Lulu Kennedy and Raphaelle Moore, was also honored on its 25th anniversary—a celebration of sustained support for avant-garde designers who now define the mainstream.
Additional recognitions included the Pandora Style Moment of the Year awarded to stylist Sam Woolf, and a posthumous Outstanding Contribution to Fashion Award for Melanie Ward, accepted by Corinne Smith. Both moments acknowledged the behind-the-scenes figures who often shape the visual and emotional register of fashion far beyond the spotlight.
Together, this year’s honorees reflect a fashion industry in flux—where cultural fluency, creative independence, and long-range stewardship are all valued currencies. From legacy houses to new guard disruptors, the 2025 Fashion Awards offered a rare snapshot of fashion’s breadth and evolving priorities.
