The British Fashion Awards 2016

Every year, the British Fashion Awards celebrates the best of British and international talent in the fashion industry. The selection panel, categories and venue might have changed since the awards’ inception in 1989, but its effect has remained the same; it’s an annual reminder that London is one of the most exciting fashion capitals in the world, and continues to foster globally-renowned talent. You can see a full list of winners below, but we’d like to focus on a few locals first.

British Emerging Talent || Molly Goddard

Central Saint Martins graduate and west London native Molly Goddard has gone from strength to strength since her London Fashion Week debut in February last year for AW15. Her subsequent collection for SS16 was picked up by NEWGEN, and she attracted attention from notable stockists including Dover Street Market, IT Hong Kong and Club 21. Her collections tend not to focus on specific themes, but rather there’s an overarching concern that touches all of her designs. Goddard brings to life those awkward coming-of-age moments that define modern femininity, portraying something that is at once fragile and beautiful and also inherently grounded. Her incredibly intricate, dream-like designs are balanced with a refreshingly real approach: each one of her designs is hand-crafted by Goddard in her London studio, and she often recruits friends or street-casts models for her shows.

 

British Womenswear Designer || Simone Rocha

Another Central Saint Martin’s graduate, Simone Rocha was awarded the Emerging Womenswear Designer accolade at 2013’s BFA, and this year she swooped in to take the Womenswear Designer award. Like Goddard, Rocha was quickly picked up by a number of prestigious stockists (Dover Street Market, Browns and Colette to name a few) and was also invited to create bespoke window art. But there are other similarities between the two; Rocha is also renowned for her examination of girlhood, through the use of intricate embellishment, embroidery and lightweight fabrics. But it’s not all frills; Rocha keeps things from spilling over into the twee dimension with minimal cuts, muted palettes and the application of leather, cellophane and rubber.

 

British Menswear Designer || Craig Green

The North Londoner established his eponymous label in 2012, after graduating from the prestigious Fashion MA at Central Saint Martins under the tutelage of the late Louise Wilson. In 2014, Green was awarded the Emerging Menswear Designer award, and in just two short years, he has established himself as one of British fashion’s most formidable talents.

 

British Brand || Alexander McQueen

It feels almost mandatory that McQueen be celebrated at any event related to British fashion. It’s almost as if the late designer defined what British fashion was to be renowned for; its penchant for provocation, its knack for innovation and its extreme originality. Lee Alexander McQueen’s story is so well known that it seems pointless regurgitating it here; his genius was already recognised by the BFA in 2010 when he was posthumously awarded British Designer of the Year. So what is the brand being celebrated for in 2016? Surely it must be for Sarah Burton’s unfaltering commitment to the brand since McQueen’s death. There’s no disputing that Burton is far less of a character than McQueen, and that’s exactly what has allowed her to seamlessly propel the brand from strength to strength and continue its founders subversive vision.

 

British Fashion Awards 2016 Winners

British Emerging Talent: Molly Goddard

The Swarovski Award for Positive Change: Franca Sozzani (Editor in Chief, Vogue Italia & L’Uomo Vogue)

British Menswear Designer: Craig Green for Craig Green

British Womenswear Designer: Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Bruce Weber (Photographer)

Special Recognition: Celebrating 100 years of British Vogue

British Brand: Alexander McQueen

International Business Leader: Marco Bizzari (President and CEO, GUCCI)

New Fashion Icons: Jaden & Willow Smith

International Model: Gigi Hadid

International Accessories Designer: Alessandro Michele for Gucci

International Ready-to-Wear Designer: Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga

 

Text by Jessica Spires