The British Fashion Council has announced the winners of the Fashion Awards 2021.
The Fashion Awards 2021 were presented by TikTok at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London London on Monday, November 29th. The event’s partnership with the ubiquitous digital entertainment platform was an evolution meant to highlight fashion’s presence at the intersection of global culture. The show’s format included awards, performances, and unique cultural highlights from the past year, and was hosted by hosted by Emmy, Tony, and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer, director, composer, and playwright Billy Porter.
The 2021 accolades include fifteen Leaders of Change, a title that celebrates the designers, brands, creatives, and individuals who created positive change within the fashion industry this past year under three categories: Environment, People, and Creativity. The awards also included eagerly anticipated Designer of the Year Award and the BFC Foundation Award.
The British Fashion Council announced the nominees for the Designer of the Year Award and the BFC Foundation Award after consulting with over 1000 key members of the international fashion industry, who were called upon to vote for this year’s global accolades, defining the final nominees, winners, and Leaders of Change.
The Awards took place in sombre circumstances, following the news that the designer Virgil Abloh had passed the night before. Actor Idris Elba opened the awards with a touching tribute to Abloh, who was honoured one of 15 “leaders of change” within the industry.
The Impression extends heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and wishes them a prosperous show season.
Designer of the Year Winner
Kim Jones for Dior Men and Fendi
The Designer of the Year award recognizes a British or international designer whose innovative collections have made a notable impact on the industry, defining the shape of global fashion.
Designer of the Year Nominees
Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga
Jonathan Anderson For JW Anderson & Loewe
Miuccia Prada & Raf Simons for Prada
BFC Foundation Award Winner
Nensi Dojaka
The BFC Foundation Award recognizes an emerging designer talent, who over the last 12 months has had a major creative impact on global fashion, from those receiving financial and mentoring support from the BFC Foundation in this year. This includes the NEWGEN in partnership with TikTok recipients, the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund winner and shortlist the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund winner and shortlist, and the BFC Fashion Trust recipients.
BFC Foundation Award Winner Nominees
Bethany Williams
Bianca Saunders
Priya Ahluwalia
Richard Quinn
Independent British Brand Award Winner
Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
Outstanding Achievement Award Winner
Tommy Hilfiger for Tommy Hilfiger
Isabella Blow Award For Fashion Creator Award Winner
Ib Kamara for Dazed magazine
Trailblazer Award Winner
Alessandro Michele for Gucci
The Fashion Awards 2021 also featured a Fashion Award for Metaverse Design, a Special Recognition Award for Culture Commentary, and several Leaders of Change honorees.
The Fashion Award for Metaverse Design was awarded to cSapphire.
The Special Recognition Award for Culture Commentary was awarded former GQ editor-in-chief Dylan Jones.
The Leaders of Change honors 15 designers, brands, creatives, and individuals who created positive change within the fashion industry this past year under three categories: Environment, People and Creativity.
Creativity
Leaders of Change for Creativity recognises designers and brands who made a global impact in the past years through their creativity in design, campaigns, collaborations and firm business foundation as well as defined the shape of global fashion. The honorees for Leaders of Change for Creativity 2021 are:
Alessandro Michele for Gucci
Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga
Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson & LOEWE
Kim Jones OBE for Dior Men & Fendi
Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton Men & Off-White
Environment
Leaders of Change for Environment celebrates those who have made a significant contribution towards reducing the environmental impact of our industry to create positive change. They are the leaders and are setting the bar by exploring new business models, design principles, production processes, consumption, and disposal. The honorees for Leaders of Change for Environment 2021 are:
Bethany Williams for Bethany Williams
Gabriela Hearst for Chloé & Gabriela Hearst
Phoebe English for Phoebe English
Priya Ahluwalia for Ahluwalia
Stella McCartney OBE for Stella McCartney
People
Leaders of Change for People recognises those who have led change by encouraging equal, diverse, empowered workforces from head office to supply chain and shop floor. It focuses on the impact fashion has on communities. The honorees for recognises those who have led change by encouraging equal, diverse, empowered workforces from head office to supply chain and shop floor. It focuses on the impact fashion has on communities. The honorees for Leaders of Change for People 2021 are:
Edward Enninful OBE
Harris Reed
Kenya Hunt
Samuel Ross
Telfar Clemens