The 2024 Fashion Awards took place in London on Monday night.
The Fashion Awards, hosted by British TV presenter Maya Jama and musician Kojey Radical, and presented by Pandora, took place on Monday night at the Royal Albert Hall.
Tom Ford, who was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award by Anna Wintour, celebrated the capital in his speech. “I have lived in London longer than any other city. I moved to the Gucci design studio in the ’90s and when I started my own label I chose to do it here,” Ford said. “There is so much life here, so much creativity, and so much of it is present here tonight. It is for me the most inspirational city in the world and I am so happy and so lucky to call it home.”
The ceremony kicked off with R&B duo Chloe and Halle Bailey performing a cover of ‘To Love Somebody’ by the Bee Gees, dressed in custom Dilara Fındıkoğlu. Law Roach welcomed the audience with a retrospective on the major fashion moments and viral shows of the past year. Debbie Harry took to the stage with a surprise performance of ‘Heart of Glass’ and ‘I Feel Love’, and the evening closed with a performance of ‘Troubled Mind’ from Wizkid, who was kitted out in Moncler, followed by an afterparty with a DJ set from Rachael Anson.
Rihanna was in attendance, wearing a Christian Lacroix Autumn/Winter 2022 mini dress, paired with a large, fuzzy teal-coloured hat. She accompanied A$AP Rocky, dressed in Bottega Veneta, who was presented the Cultural Innovator Award by Michèle Lamy. Other celebrities spotted on the red carpet include Rita Ora, Joan Smalls and Gemma Chan.
Presented by Loewe brand ambassador Jamie Dornan, Jonathan Anderson took home the Designer of the Year Award for the second year in a row, beating John Galliano, Miuccia Prada, Rick Owens, Chemena Kamali and Pieter Mulier. “This job is not always the easiest, but I love fashion, it’s something that gets me out of bed every morning,” Anderson said. “To everyone who is wanting to be a fashion designer, the great thing about fashion is that we all go out of fashion. So there are loads of jobs to be taken downstairs, so come and get them.”
Simone Rocha was named British Womenswear Designer of the Year, beating Anderson, Maximilian Davis, Roksanda Ilincic and Erdem Moralioglu. The award was presented by Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan.
Grace Wales Bonner won British Menswear Designer of the Year, beating Craig Green, Anderson, Kiko Kostadinov, Kim Jones and last year’s winner Martine Rose.
Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena of Chopova Lowena, winners of the 2023 New Establishment Award, took home the BFC Foundation Award, which celebrates designers that take part in one of the BFC’s support initiatives — Newgen, the Vogue and GQ Fashion Funds and the BFC Fashion Trust. The award was the first of the night, presented by music artists Joe Jonas and Olivia Dean. “It means so much to us. We love what we do,” said Lowena. Meanwhile, Priya Ahluwalia won the New Establishment Menswear Award, presented by Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems and British rapper Wretch 32. “To all the students up there, five years ago I was up there, and now I’m here. I’m so excited for your futures,” Ahluwalia said in her acceptance speech, addressing the upper section of the audience. Marco Capaldo won the New Establishment Womenswear Award, presented by actor Simone Ashley.
Stephen Jones won Accessories Designer of the Year, presented by One Day actor Ambika Mod. “Wouldn’t this make a gorgeous hat?” he joked, placing the swirling sculptural trophy on his head. Each unique trophy was designed by interdisciplinary artist Jade Adeyemi in collaboration with Pandora.
Trans model Alex Consani won Model of the Year. Consani is known for her online content and sense of humour. “I am the first trans model to win this award,” she said after model Ashley Graham and Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau presented her with the trophy. “Now more than ever it’s an important conversation to be had, about how to support and uplift one another in this industry — especially those who have been made to feel insignificant. Because change is more than possible, it’s needed, and this is a step in the right direction.”
As already announced, Moncler CEO Remo Ruffini won the Trailblazer Award for his contribution to the fashion industry. Gucci received a Special Recognition Award for its campaign ‘We Will Always Have London’, developed by creative director Sabato De Sarno and photographer and activist Nan Goldin.
During the evening, Jama and Radical invited outgoing BFC CEO Caroline Rush to the stage. “This industry is nothing without dreams, creativity, freedom of thought and diversity, and it has been my absolute privilege over the last 15 years to be a champion, supporter, cheerleader for so many of you in this room,” said Rush.
Cre: VOGUE Business
