2013 British Fashion Awards winners announced

After I was invited by the British Fashion Council to cast my vote for this year’s British Fashion Awards a few months ago, I was privileged to receive an invitation to attend the awards ceremony at the London Coliseum on 2 December 2013. The luxurious venue (built in 1904 as the largest and finest music hall theatre) was the perfect setting for a stylish evening that saw the most talented and promising creative minds in the British fashion world being honoured for their work.

Established in 1989 as a regular annual programme (following the success of the British Fashion Council’s Designer of the Year award launched in 1984), for the past 15 years the British Fashion Awards have rewarded the careers and success of dozens of individuals and brands in categories such as fashion design (womenswear and menswear), accessories, modelling and style. Hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, the 2013 ceremony saw 16 awards presented by key personalities and supporters of the British fashion industry such as Donatella VersaceSamantha CameronGwyneth PaltrowSienna MillerJefferson Hack and Rita Ora. 

Christopher Kane won the award for Womenswear Designer of the Year, whereas Burberry’s Christopher Bailey received awards for Menswear Designer of the Year and Designer Brand of the Year. The International Designer of the Year award (introduced this year to celebrate the influence played by an international designer on the global fashion arena) went to Miuccia Prada.

Model Kate Moss and fashion writer Suzy Menkes were honoured with Special Recognition Awards for their careers and Lady Amanda Harlech received the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator in recognition of her influence in the fashion industry. The honour of Outstanding Achievement in Fashion was awarded to Terry and Tricia Jones for their contribution to the fashion industry as founders of the influential i-D Magazine, which they started in 1980.

Nicholas Kirkwood received the Accessories Designer of the Year Award for the third time, and the New Establishment award was won by J.W. AndersonErdem, whose work is renowned for embodying femininity and modern elegance, was the recipient of this year’s Red Carpet Award.

In the emerging talent categories, the winners were Simone Rocha(Womenswear), Agi & Sam (Menswear), and Sophia Webster (Accessories), while Edie Campbell won the Model of the Year award. The British Style Award (sponsored by Vodafone and voted by the public) went to singer Harry Styles.