All You Need to Know About the 2023 Fashion Awards

LONDON — The Fashion Awards, the annual fundraising extravaganza hosted by the British Fashion Council, is set to return on Monday night at the Royal Albert Hall with a slew of major celebrities and designers in attendance.

On Friday, as it was revealed that the British singer Sam Smith will accept the Cultural Innovator Award on stage, it is almost certain that the nonbinary artist will create another memorable red-carpet moment not unlike the dramatic latex ensemble designed by Harri that Smith wore to the BRIT Awards earlier this year.

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In recent years, Smith has become increasingly known for their bold and experimental sense of fashion, as well as their Grammy-winning albums.

The Cultural Innovator Award was created to celebrate a leading figure in the entertainment industry who over the years has created viral fashion moments that have had a profound impact on the fashion industry and wider culture.

Sam Smith attends The BRIT Awards 2023  at The O2 Arena on February 11, 2023 in London, England.
Sam Smith attends The Brit Awards 2023 at The O2 Arena on Feb. 11 in London.

Caroline Rush, chief executive officer at the British Fashion Council, said Smith is “a true cultural innovator who has fearlessly pushed the boundaries of both fashion and entertainment and inspired countless individuals across the world to embrace their true selves.”

“Smith’s unapologetic and groundbreaking style choices have dominated the industry in 2023 and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support of U.K. designers,” she added.

On top of supporting Harri, a brand that receives funding support from BFC’s emerging talent program Newgen, Smith’s other key fashion moments in recent memory include their all-red Valentino ensemble for the 65th Grammy Awards, an embellished golden corset by Ed Marler worn during their “Gloria” tour, as well as music performances during runway shows for Harris Reed and Christian Cowan.

Smith will be one of many major stars to attend the annual fundraising fashion extravaganza for the BFC Foundation. The event aims to spotlight creative talent, and examine the past year in fashion through the lens of “purpose, excellence and creativity.”

The BFC Foundation is a charity that supports education, grant-giving and business mentoring. In fiscal 2022-23, the BFC said it remitted more than 1.2 million pounds in funds to designers and scholars.

Michaela Coel attends the European Premiere of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"
Michaela Coel attends the European Premiere of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

British Ghanaian actress Michaela Coel, with major works such as “I May Destroy You” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” under her belt, has been named the recipient of the Pandora Leader of Change Award.

Her award will be presented to her by Pandora ambassador Pamela Anderson. Pandora is the headline sponsor of the annual fundraising fashion extravaganza this year.

Campbell Addy, the photographer, director and publisher, will receive the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator at The Fashion Awards.

The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator is meant to recognize innovators and creatives in fashion who have helped to change the fashion landscape. Previous winners include Ib Kamara, Katie Grand, Amanda Harlech, Mert & Marcus, Nick Knight, Pat McGrath, Louise Wilson and Sam McKnight.

Edward Enninful, who is stepping aside as editor in chief of British Vogue next year to become global creative and cultural adviser of Vogue, will take home the Trailblazer Award.

The Trailblazer Award was created in 2018 to celebrate leading innovators and creatives in fashion, whose work in the past year has significantly shaped the industry. Kim Jones, artistic director of Dior menswear and artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women at Fendi, took home the honor that year.

Kate Moss and Charlotte Tilbury
Kate Moss and Charlotte Tilbury

Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury will receive the Special Recognition Award. The BFC will also honor the late designer Joe Casely-Hayford with a new scholarship and a posthumous Special Recognition Award.

In terms of honors dedicated to fashion designers, Jonathan Anderson, Miuccia Prada and Raf SimonsDaniel Lee, Matthieu Blazy and Sarah Burton are the designers nominated for the Designer of the Year award.

Designer Valentino Garavani will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award.

The prize recognizes the creative contribution of an individual to the fashion industry, who throughout their career “has constantly shaped and reshaped the fashion world through their innovation and creativity,” according to the BFC.

Previous winners include Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada, Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, Terry and Tricia Jones and Manolo Blahnik to name only a few.

Designer Valentino Garavani photographed in his New York home.
Designer Valentino Garavani photographed in his New York home.

Maya Jama, the British television presenter famed for hosting the dating game show “Love Island,” will host the 2023 Fashion Awards along with musician Kojey Radical. Meanwhile, former celebrity stylist Law Roach will host the red-carpet coverage.

Below is the full list of the nominees.

Designer of the Year

  • Daniel Lee for Burberry

  • Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and Loewe

  • Matthieu Blazy for Bottega Veneta

  • Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons for Prada

  • Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

BFC Foundation

  • Aaron Esh

  • Chet Lo

  • Sinéad O’Dwyer

  • Conner Ives

  • Paolo Carzana

Model of the Year
Alton Mason 
Anok Yai 
Kai-Isaiah Jamal 
Liu Wen 
Mona Tougaard 
Paloma Elsesser
Model of the Year Alton Mason Anok Yai Kai-Isaiah Jamal Liu Wen Mona Tougaard Paloma Elsesser

Model of the Year

  • Alton Mason

  • Anok Yai

  • Kai-Isaiah Jamal

  • Liu Wen

  • Mona Tougaard

  • Paloma Elsesser

British Menswear Designer of the Year
Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner 
Kiko Kostadinov for Kiko Kostadinov 
Kim Jones for Dior Men 
Martine Rose for Martine Rose 
Steven Stokey-Daley for S.S.DALEY
British Menswear Designer of the Year Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner Kiko Kostadinov for Kiko Kostadinov Kim Jones for Dior Men Martine Rose for Martine Rose Steven Stokey-Daley for S.S.DALEY

British Menswear Designer of the Year

  • Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner

  • Kiko Kostadinov for Kiko Kostadinov

  • Kim Jones for Dior Men

  • Martine Rose for Martine Rose

  • Steven Stokey-Daley for S.S. Daley

British Womenswear Designer of the Year 
Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem  
Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo 
Nensi Dojaka for Nensi Dojaka 
Roksanda Ilinčić for Roksanda 
Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
British Womenswear Designer of the Year Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo Nensi Dojaka for Nensi Dojaka Roksanda Ilinčić for Roksanda Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha

British Womenswear Designer of the Year

  • Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem

  • Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo

  • Nensi Dojaka for Nensi Dojaka

  • Roksanda Ilinčić for Roksanda

  • Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha

New Establishment Menswear 
Bianca Saunders 
Corteiz  
Labrum London 
Nicholas Daley 
Saul Nash
New Establishment Menswear Bianca Saunders Corteiz Labrum London Nicholas Daley Saul Nash

New Establishment Menswear

  • Bianca Saunders

  • Corteiz

  • Labrum London

  • Nicholas Daley

  • Saul Nash

New Establishment Womenswear 
— Chopova Lowena 
— Dilara Fındıkoğlu 
— KNWLS  
— Robert Wun
— Supriya Lele 
New Establishment Womenswear — Chopova Lowena — Dilara Fındıkoğlu — KNWLS — Robert Wun — Supriya Lele

New Establishment Womenswear

  • Chopova Lowena

  • Dilara Fındıkoğlu

  • Knwls

  • Robert Wun

  • Supriya Lele

The Fashion Awards 2023 Red Carpet Arrivals: All the Looks and Live Updates

Anne Hathaway attending the Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora held at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London. Picture date: Monday December 4, 2023. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Anne Hathaway attending the Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora held at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London. Picture date: Monday December 4, 2023. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Amal Clooney attends The Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora at the Royal Albert Hall on December 04, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Amal Clooney attends The Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora at the Royal Albert Hall on December 04, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Grace Wales Bonner and Lewis Hamilton at The Fashion Awards 2023, Presented by Pandora held at the Royal Albert Hall on December 4, 2023 in London, England.
Grace Wales Bonner and Lewis Hamilton at The Fashion Awards 2023, Presented by Pandora held at the Royal Albert Hall on December 4, 2023 in London, England.

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Launch Gallery: The Fashion Awards 2023 Red Carpet Arrivals: All the Looks and Live Updates

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