The British Fashion Council just announced its 2016 British Fashion Awards nominees, and its choices highlight the most discussed issues facing the fashion industry this year.
The annual event brings the fashion community together to celebrate members of the British fashion industry along with international fashion talent, and this year’s nominees represent conversations around diversity, business acumen and the rise of streetwear.
The nominees were selected by 1,500 fashion industry members from 41 countries.
Taking a closer look at the nominees shows stalwarts like Tom Ford, Vivienne Westwood and Christopher Kane making their way onto the short list — no surprises here — and familiar faces Roksanda Ilincic, Simone Rocha and Anya Hindmarch joining them as contenders.
Interestingly, but also not surprising, headline makers and their brands including, Christopher Kane, Alessandro Michele, Christopher Bailey and the Vsalia’s (Demna and Guram) had a strong presence on the shortlist, but what about the new guys?
Although it’s exciting to see newer talents like Self-Portrait’s Han Chong and Molly Goddard represented on the list, this goes to show the industry is still a long way from breaking the tradition of celebrating those already at the top.
Yes, there are programs like the British Fashion Council’s BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund, Fashion East and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, but the sheer number of new designers accepted into these programs compared to the space offered, paints a somewhat sad picture for a designer who don’t make the cut.
But the light at the end of the tunnel here is that talent and passion always win — with one caveat.
Which brings us to our next point.
As a designer, you can have all the talent passion in the world, but if you don’t have a business good luck trying to make it.
It was magnificent to see the importance the British Fashion Council placed on the business side of the industry nominating big time fashion business minds like Adrian Joffe and Christiopher Bailey alongside rising CEOs like Guram Gvasalia of Vetements, Marco Bizzarri of Gucci and Stefano Sassi of Valentino for its International Business Leader award.
These men have steered the ship at the brands making all our fashion dreams come true (we mean that in the most non-cliché way possible), and if you ask us, they should all go home with the award.
We just wish there were some ladies represented on the business side of the ballot. Hear that ladies? We’re calling on you to rise up and take your rightful place in one of those CEO spots.
Speaking of diversity, it was nice to see nominees Adwoa Aboah, Lineisy Montero, Grace Wales Bonner and Virgil Abloh show the fashion world that people of color can contribute something massively special to the industry too.
Images and video screenshot courtesy: British Fashion Council
And with streetwear becoming something like a second skin to fashion folk, it’s not shocking to find Adidas, Gosha Rubchinskiy, Off-White, Palace and Vetements on the ticket for the International Urban Luxury Brand award.
Can anyone take a wild guess who will win? We’re betting all our money on Vetements.
“The shortlisted nominees prove the incredible talent we are so fortunate to work with both at home and abroad,” Natalie Massenet the British Fashion Council’s chairwoman said in a statement. “This year’s ceremony will be thrilling and I look forward to welcoming all our guests to London and to what has become one of the most-anticipated highlights of the global fashion calendar.”
The winners will be announced at a fundraiser gala benefitting the British Fashion Council Education Foundation on Dec. 5 at the Royal Albert Hall in London in front of an expected 4,000 guests. In addition to the categories mentioned here, five honorary awards will also be given during the ceremony.
Read below for the rest of the British Fashion Awards nominees.
British Emerging Talent
Alessandra Rich
Charles Jeffrey
Faustine Steinmetz
Molly Goddard
Self-Portrait
British Menswear Designer
Craig Green for Craig Green
Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner
Jonathan Anderson for J.W.Anderson
Tom Ford for Tom Ford
Dame Vivienne Westwood for Vivienne Westwood
British Womenswear Designer
Christopher Kane for Christopher Kane
Jonathan Anderson for J.W. Anderson
Roksanda Ilincic for Roksanda
Sarah Burton OBE for Alexander McQueen
Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
British Brand
Alexander McQueen
Burberry
Christopher Kane
Erdem
Stella McCartney
International Business Leader
Adrian Joffe for Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market
Christopher Bailey MBE for Burberry
Guram Gvasalia for Vetements
Marco Bizzarri for Gucci
Stefano Sassi for Valentino
International Urban Luxury Brand
Adidas
Gosha Rubchinskiy
Off-White
Palace
Vetements
International Model
Adwoa Aboah
Bella Hadid
Gigi Hadid
Kendall Jenner
Lineisy Montero
International Accessories Designer
Alessandro Michele for Gucci
Anya Hindmarch MBE for Anya Hindmarch
Johnny Coca for Mulberry
Jonathan Anderson for Loewe
Stuart Vevers for Coach
International Ready-to-Wear Designer
Alessandro Michele for Gucci
Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga
Donatella Versace for Versace
Jonathan Anderson for Loewe
Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy
By Ashley Paintsil
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