British Fashion Awards

The British Fashion Council announced Christopher Bailey as the winner of the prestigious Designer of the Year Award. Ten other leading fashion figures were also honoured at the 2009 British Fashion Awards, supported by Swarovski,

held at the Royal Courts of Justice, London.

Hosted by presenter Lauren Laverne, the ceremony saw designers, models, fashion editors and stylists, and industry VIPs joined by a glamorous line-up of guests and presenters, including Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova and Dame Vivienne Westwood.

The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator went to Creative Director of Vogue US and star of ‘The September Issue’, Grace Coddington. Having been brought up in the UK Grace began her career as a Junior Fashion Editor before rising to Fashion Director at British Vogue, where she created epic and unforgettable stories with a profound impact on readers and designers alike, throughout the Seventies and Eighties. In 1988, she moved to New York to join Anna Wintour as Creative Director at American Vogue where her passion for image-making continues to flourish and astonish in every issue.

Decided entirely by public vote, the London 25 award was created in celebration of 25 Years of British Fashion, to recognise an individual who embodies the spirit of London and is an international ambassador for the capital’s fashion industry and was awarded to Kate Moss.

It was a double celebration for Burberry, as the brand took home the Designer Brand award and Christopher Bailey was honoured with the BFC Designer of the Year award. During his acceptance speech Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey announced that Burberry Prorsum would continue to show at London Fashion Week in February.

Kim Jones was named Menswear Designer having presented two internationally acclaimed collections creating a renewed enthusiasm and interest in the brand, since being appointed Creative Director for dunhill.

The Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards for Ready-to-Wear and Accessories, conceived last year by the British Fashion Council and Swarovski to recognise and financially reward designers as they establish their emerging fashion businesses were awarded to Peter Pilotto who won the Ready to Wear award and Holly Fulton who collected the award for Accessories.

Following on from her being appointed the face of Hudson Jeans and the star of the Spring 2010 Versace Campaign, Georgia May Jagger collected the Model award.

Accessory designer Katie Hillier won the Accessory Designer award, in addition to working with Marc by Marc Jacobs, Luella, House of Holland and Samantha Thavasa, Katie launched the first piece of her own line earlier this year, the Hillier bunny, which has just sold to Dover Street Market and Colette and the full range will be available from February 2010.

Christopher Kane was awarded BFC British Collection of the Year as a British based designer whose last two collections have stirred huge press excitement and impressive sales around the world; who set girls clamoring for his summer 2009 instant collectibles for Topshop, and in the same year was signed by Donatella Versace to put his sexy, youthful stamp on the Versus label in Milan.

John Galliano received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design in recognition for his extraordinary career from his graduate collection through to his most recent work at Givenchy and Christian Dior. Revered globally for his exciting, innovative and romantic designs on the runway as well as on the red carpet, Galliano has established himself as arguably the most influential fashion designer of his generation.

Swarovski, the world’s leading producer of cut crystals, takes pride in its privileged position at the heart of fashion and is proud to support the British Fashion Awards for the fifth consecutive year. For over 114 years, the company has enjoyed collaborating with the greatest names and faces in fashion, jewellery, and interior design around the world using CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements as the ultimate ingredient. Swarovski remains an enthusiastic supporter of the newest talents in fashion and is proud to continue their role as a patron of the most dynamic young designers in the world. With three rotating Swarovski Crystal Palace Tulsa Chandeliers, designed by Michael Anastassiades, displayed on stage through Musion technology, Swarovski not only dazzled in couture last night, it successfully transformed the main hall of the Royal Courts of Justice into a glitter box of sparkles and glamour.


Image: Jerry Hall & Georgia May Jagger