As voting goes live to an international panel of 1,500 industry influencers, the British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the award categories. To be hosted at the Royal Albert Hall on December 5, 2016, the Fashion Awards will celebrate the best fashion talent of 2016 from the global fashion community. The Fashion Awards is being conducted in partnership with Swarovski. The awards will be the inaugural annual fundraiser gala for the British Fashion Council Education Foundation charity which offers scholarships to talented young people to study at the best fashion universities in the UK. The voting panel, which includes media, retailers, CEOs and creatives will decide on 10 awards to be allocated.
Seven of these are international with nominees from all over the world – as well as designer brands these will include awards for behind-the-scenes decision makers, while four would be for British talent, recognising the host city London. The special recognition awards that will celebrate outstanding contributions to the fashion industry will be announced a day bedore the awards ceremony. Awards which will be open to both British and international talent are: Model of the Year, Ready-to-Wear Designer of the Year, Accessories Designer of the Year, Urban Luxury, Fashion Icon, Creative Influencer and Business Leader. The four British awards will be: British Menswear Designer of the Year,British Womenswear Designer of the Year, British Brand and Emerging Talent Award.
The special recognition awards, also international, will include Outstanding Achievement Award, Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, Special Recognition Award and SWAROVSKI Award for Positive Change. The Fashion Icon award will be voted for by the public.
