“I’m here today to report an unprecedented heatwave across the continent… of hot British talent,” said British actor Celia Imrie in a video broadcast to open the Fashion Awards at London’s Albert Hall on Monday night. Indeed, the ceremony was a battle cry for the British designers, creatives and founders who have impacted the global fashion industry, from Jonathan Anderson (Designer of the Year) to Sarah Burton (Womenswear Designer of the Year) and Grace Wales Bonner (Menswear Designer of the Year).
There was no heatwave outside, however. Guests arriving at the (newly) blue carpet at the 2025 Fashion Awards were met with a typical cold drizzle. Crowds thronged to get a glimpse of star guests, including Cate Blanchett in Givenchy, FKA Twigs in Paolo Carzana, Lily Allen in Valentino and Gwendoline Christie in an enormous blonde wig.
Awards carpets have become a vehicle for teasers and announcements. On Monday night, Amelia Gray, Anitta, Emily Ratajkowski and Alton Mason stepped out in a new collaboration between H&M and Stella McCartney, which will be released in Spring 2026. Ellie Goulding also announced her pregnancy in a black tailored look from Willy Chavarria.
The show began with a video narrated by Imrie, before showing a montage of runway shows from British designers including Phoebe Philo, Simone Rocha and Harris Reed, plus some of the top British talent at global luxury brands, including Grace Wales Bonner and Sarah Burton. Imrie then walked onto the stage in a red velvet look from Savile Row tailor Gieves and Hawkes and welcomed Bafta and Oscar-nominated actor, playwright and director Colman Domingo, the host of the evening. “British fashion has always been at the forefront of global culture, and tonight we are here to celebrate this impact,” said Domingo in his opening speech.
The first award of the night to be announced was the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, presented to Dover Street Market by Gwendoline Christie, Craig Green and Simone Rocha. Adrian Joffe and Dickon Bowden took to the stage to collect the award. “Our conversion is terrible, footfall counters still don’t work and sticking white balls in a window in London isn’t a good idea. But we have eight stores around the world, and I guess you could argue we’ve done something right. What we have learned in 21 years of Dover Street is pure creativity, something with pure spirit and soul,” said Bowden.
Then, LVMH’s Delphine Arnault was awarded the Special Recognition Prize for her role in supporting emerging talent as the founder of the LVMH Prize. The award was presented by Anna Wintour, who offered a very personal tribute to the LVMH scion. “One imagines it is a particular experience to be the only daughter of Bernard Arnault, but surely no one has borne the burden of success as Delphine Arnault,” said Wintour.
“It’s so meaningful for me to receive this award from you, who understand the importance of supporting young talents in this industry. At LVMH, everything starts with creativity. The LVMH Prize has the mission of identifying young talent and helping them grow,” said Arnault to Wintour in her speech. “It is powerful to be in London tonight. I have always admired the relationship between London’s edge and Paris’s refinement.” She went on to name-check the many British designers who have passed through LVMH’s doors, from Philo to Anderson.
Then, rapper Skepta took to the stage to present Fashion East with the second Special Recognition Award. Founders Lulu Kennedy and Raphaelle Moore accepted the award on stage. “You’d think 25 years is a long time, but it’s flown by. Supporting young talent is such a blessing,” said Kennedy. The incubator, known for cultivating British talents including Anderson, Kim Jones and Simone Rocha, is the backbone of London’s thriving community of independent brands.
Stylist Sam Woolf, known for his work with Doechii, was then awarded the Pandora Style Moment award by Iman, before Sharon Stone presented Brunello Cuccinelli with an Outstanding Achievement Award.
“We’re at a time in the world where it’s important to understand the journey is about more than yourself and your designs, it’s more than what you do…,” Stone said, before gesturing to the top of the Albert Hall. “It’s you, the students. You will become tailors and knitters; you will be the backbone of this industry as it goes on.”
A jazz band accompanied British musician Raye, who was wearing Ferrari, for the interlude, where she performed ‘Cry Me a River’ and her viral song ‘Where Is My Husband’. “I attended my first fashion awards in a Givenchy dress and a Prada — no, I mean Primark thong,” the singer joked with Domingo post-performance. “We’ve come a long way!”
The British Menswear Designer of the Year Award went to Grace Wales Bonner, who was recently appointed creative director of menswear at Hermès, for her work at her namesake brand. Sarah Burton won British Womenswear Designer of the Year for her work at Givenchy.
Then, a video from Chanel CEO Leena Nair played, in celebration of the brand’s 100-year anniversary of entering the UK. The executive is in New York for Matthieu Blazy’s Metiers d’Arts show on December 2. Amanda Harlech then collected the Special Recognition Award on the brand’s behalf, before six ballerinas from the English National Ballet in colorful striped swim shorts performed on stage. Founder Gabrielle Chanel was known for her support of dance, having created the costumes for Le Train Bleu in 1924.
British Fashion Council CEO Laura Weir stepped on stage to highlight that the Fashion Awards had raised over £1 million for the BFC Foundation for the first time, followed by a video from past and present Newgen designers expressing gratitude for the BFC’s support.
Next, a legion of BFC Fashion Trust alumni, including Emilia Wickstead, 16Arlington’s Marco Capaldo, Supriya Lele, Roksanda Ilincic and Nicholas Daley, took to the stage to honor founder Tania Fares. “To be the first Lebanese person to get this recognition from the British Fashion Council is an extraordinary honour,” she said.
The Vanguard Award, which celebrates a British designer who demonstrates visionary creativity and cultural leadership, went to Dilara Findikoglu, presented by Ncuti Gatwa and FKA Twigs. “Firstly, I would like to thank myself for never giving up and always believing in myself and my amazing team for creating miracles every single day. I would like to dedicate this award to all the misfits in the world. London is the place for all of us who break the mold and break the rules,” said Findikoglu.
Then, a tribute to stylist Melanie Ward played, who passed away earlier this month and received the Outstanding Contribution to Fashion Award, followed by a video in memory of the late Rosita Missoni, Giorgio Armani, Pam Hogg, Paul Costelloe and more.
Costume designer Kate Hawley — most recently lauded for her work on Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein — was awarded the inaugural Costume Designer of the Year Award. Hawley is the creative eye behind scores of acclaimed films, including Crimson Peak, Pacific Rim and The Hobbit. The award was presented by Bafta-winning costume designer Sandy Powell.
Then, for the third performance of the evening, Grammy award-winning artist Tems took to the stage to perform her new song, ‘I’m Not Sure’, and hit track ‘Me and U’. Then Little Simz took home the Cultural Innovator Award. “As a creative, sometimes we feel bogged down by the need to create something groundbreaking, and we worry about the wrong things. I think the key is having a vision and seeing it through, so I want to dedicate this award to my younger self because she saw it through.”
Anok Yai took home the Model of the Year Award, presented by fellow models and previous winners Paloma Elsesser and Alex Consani. “I was told I would be a flash in the pan and I would be crushed by the machine that is the fashion industry, and my career would last six months. It’s been a long six months, huh?” she said. “I didn’t have parents in the industry or a trust fund. I am a refugee, and there’s nothing stronger than that. To all my little black girls watching this, your color’s not a curse. You are more powerful than you could imagine.” She closed with a powerful call to attention to recognize the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Finally, the Designer of the Year Award went to Jonathan Anderson for the third year in a row, this time for his work at both his eponymous label and Dior, where he was appointed creative director earlier this year. The award recognizes British or international designers who have made an impact on the industry. “I wrote a speech this time,” he joked. “It’s been a crazy year, and as I said before, I would never be on the stage without the British Fashion Council because they leave space for you to be whoever you want to be. You can set up a business, you can fail. There is an entire team of thousands of people who are at both companies; I am just the showgirl. It means a lot because I have to be the person to do this part, but all the magic happens back at the office, and this night shows that everything happens because of collaboration.”
“I won’t go on too long as I know you want to drink and party,” Anderson quipped during his speech. And sure enough, as he left the stage and the lights dimmed, guests settled in for a night of dancing, in celebration of all this city and this country have to offer fashion.
