Steven Stokey-Daley Continues to Build on His Brand’s Momentum with the Announcement of the Award from the BFC and Royal Family
Steven Stokey-Daley, founder and creative director of S.S. Daley, has been awarded the 2024 Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. The prestigious honor, presented by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, during a ceremony at the Royal Academy of Arts, recognizes young designers who make a positive societal impact through sustainable practices or community engagement.
“It’s a huge honor and very exciting to have been chosen to receive this award. To join the people who have won this award in the past is very flattering, and very exciting,” Stokey-Daley shared at the ceremony. He becomes the seventh recipient of the award, following designers such as Richard Quinn, Priya Ahluwalia, and Foday Dumbuya of Labrum London.
Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, praised Stokey-Daley’s work, saying, “His unique approach to menswear and storytelling through design. His use of deadstock fabrics and commitment to diverse model casting demonstrates a bold, innovative spirit that perfectly embodies the essence of British fashion.”
S.S. Daley is known for its creative exploration of British class and identity, with a design language that merges historical references, like aristocratic uniforms, with modern narratives. His collections, which often feature gender-fluid elements, have garnered a strong Gen Z following and a growing female customer base. The brand’s rise to prominence was marked by a collaboration with Harry Styles, whose stylist selected Stokey-Daley’s designs for the “Golden” music video. Styles has since acquired a minority stake in the brand.
The award comes at a pivotal moment for Stokey-Daley. In January, he presented his Fall 2024 collection at Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio as a guest designer for Pitti Uomo, and his first full womenswear collection is set to debut during London Fashion Week in September. Stokey-Daley reflected on the significance of receiving the royal accolade, stating, “We’ve always referenced the idea of the royal family and historically we’ve referenced aristocracy in the U.K. My point of view is very different from their point of view… it’s quite a full-circle moment to be given this award.”
The Queen Elizabeth II Award, established in 2018, was created to highlight the role fashion plays in society and to support young designers leading in sustainability and community efforts. This year’s ceremony also featured the announcement of the BFC Foundation’s Impact Report. The BFC revealed it has invested £4.3 million into design talent since 2020, providing vital support to emerging designers. For the 2023-2024 financial year, the BFC invested £619,000 in education, supporting 39 designers through scholarships and support schemes.
Rush underscored the importance of such initiatives, especially in challenging times for the fashion industry. “Despite the challenging landscape that designers are facing, I remain optimistic because of the incredible resilience of our creative community.” She emphasized the significance of the award for young designers, adding, “For a young designer, this recognition provides not only an endorsement of their creative vision but also critical support in building a sustainable and influential brand.”
