We the BFC are delighted to announce that S.S.DALEY is the recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, which recognises a designer who leads with innovation and is making a difference to society through either sustainable practices or community engagement. Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh presented the award to founder and creative director Steven Stokey-Daley at The Royal Academy, with a special performance from Laura Mvula. The event also celebrated the impact of the BFC Foundation, which supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry and today launches its first Impact Report.
Key attendees: Caroline Rush CBE, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, Steven Stokey-Daley, David Pemsel, Mia Reagan, Sebastian Croft, Clara Amfo, Foday Dumbuya, Laura Mvula, Sarah Mower, Suzy Menkes, June Sarpong, Yu Masui and Claire Stroll.
S.S.DALEY is the namesake label of Liverpool-born designer Steven Stokey-Daley, exploring the duplicity of his British heritage, centering around themes of class and identity. Stokey-Daley gained recognition when stylist Harry Lambert selected pieces from his graduate collection for Harry Styles' "Golden" music video, with Styles recently investing in a minority stake in the brand. Known for its sustainable practices, S.S.DALEY uses deadstock and donated fabrics to create designs, spearheading a transition to a more environmentally conscious industry. In 2022, the label won the prestigious LVMH Prize as well as the BFC Foundation Award at the Fashion Awards affirming its place as a leading voice in contemporary British fashion.
Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive British Fashion Council, commented: “The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was established to highlight the vital role fashion plays in society and diplomacy, while shining a light on young designers leading the way in sustainability and community engagement. Since its inception in 2018, the award has positioned its honourees at the forefront of global fashion. For a young designer, this recognition provides not only an endorsement of their creative vision but also critical support in building a sustainable and influential brand. SS Daley has made remarkable strides in fashion with his unique approach to menswear and storytelling through design. His use of deadstock fabrics and commitment to diverse model casting demonstrate a bold, innovative spirit that perfectly embodies the essence of British fashion.”
Steven Stokey-Daley, founder of S.S.Daley, stated: “We’re honoured to receive The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design this year; a year in which London proves its resilience. It’s a privilege to join such esteemed peers as a recipient of this award, and I want to thank Caroline Rush, Sarah Mower, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, and the British Fashion Council.”
The BFC is pleased to present the BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 1185152) Impact Report, the first report which reflects on the tangible impact the BFC Foundation has made over the past four years in securing the future pipeline of creative talent for the industry. The BFC Foundation is the only UK charity offering comprehensive support to fashion talent, spanning education, scholarships, emerging talent, and growth funds.
From March 2020 to March 2024, the BFC Foundation allocated a total of £4.3 million across its initiatives. This report highlights how the grants and scholarships distributed by the Foundation have significantly influenced the British fashion industry, fostering the development of a new generation of creatives and supporting their progression. During the financial year 2023/2024 the BFC invested £619,00 in education supporting 39 designers through scholarships and designer support schemes: National Saturday Clubs, BFC NEWGEN, BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and BFC Fashion Trust.
Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive British Fashion Council, said: "It’s really exciting to launch our first BFC Foundation Impact Report, which showcases our commitment to securing the future pipeline of talent to the industry globally. Despite the challenging landscape that designers are facing, I remain optimistic because of the incredible resilience of our creative community. In 2020, we set the goal of raising £10 million in 10 years and I am delighted to say that we are on track and will continue with this momentum.”
The BFC Foundation supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on education, grant-giving, and business mentoring. The charity aims to raise funds to maintain and grow its grant giving programmes with the support of an influential international Patronage Programme. The charity has been able to support 94 designers and 81 students in their education through financial support grants and mentoring from March 2020 to March 2024.
The BFC would like to thank CHANEL, Dior MEN and the Casely Hayford Family for their partnership and named scholarship programmes that combine essential funding with unique access to each luxury brand. Scholars are additionally provided with a direct point of contact within the CHANEL, Dior MEN and Casely-Hayford teams, to provide advice and mentoring support for the duration of their scholarship. We would also like to thank Mishcon De Reya, Sheridans, Taylor Wessing and DLA Piper, RSM and Zedonk for their pro-bono support for BFC grant recipient designers.