The British Fashion Council is delighted to announce The Fashion Awards 2016, a celebration of global fashion for both the industry and the public. Previously known as the British Fashion Awards, this year’s Fashion Awards in partnership with SWAROVSKI will take place on Monday 5th December 2016 at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. The Fashion Awards 2016 will celebrate the best of British and international talent from the global fashion community, in London.
The new format has a core aim - to raise significant funds over the next ten years for education scholarships to help the best talent attend leading fashion colleges. The Fashion Awards will be an annual fundraiser gala for the British Fashion Council Education Foundation charity.
Dame Natalie Massenet, BFC Chairman commented: “Our aim is to make the Fashion Awards 2016 bigger and better than ever and will celebrate the global fashion industry at the beautiful and iconic London venue, the Royal Albert Hall. Nadja and her team at Swarovski have made these awards possible and we are thrilled to be working in partnership with them once again. As a global industry we should make a commitment to support talented people from all backgrounds to fulfil their dreams and access the best universities in the world. Over the next ten years our ambition is to raise and invest £10million to support young people in this goal. London is seen as the capital for the most creative new talent in the world that provides talent and energy for the global fashion industry.”
Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board commented: “Supporting emerging talent and celebrating creativity is in Swarovski’s DNA, so we are delighted to partner again with the BFC on the Fashion Awards, which are not only celebrating the most creative expression in fashion on a global scale, but also raising funds for education in fashion. The Royal Albert Hall is the perfect venue for this evolved event, which will truly celebrate and cement London’s position as the world’s pre-eminent creative hub, whilst giving back to the fashion industry.”
Caroline Rush CBE, BFC Chief Executive stated: “We have been developing a large scale Awards format that this year will become a celebration of British and international excellence as well as a significant fundraiser to give opportunities to talented young people. Our ambition for the evening is that the best of the fashion world will come together in London to recognise talent in design, creativity, business as well as those whose outstanding contribution to the industry have significant changed it for the better.”
Sarah Mower MBE and Meribeth Parker presidents of the BFC Education Pillar and Trustees of its Education Foundation said: "It's a fact that without the stream of talent Britain's great fashion education teaches, London Fashion Week could not be the vibrant force it is today. Now that students are facing extreme debt, we are aware of how vital it is to continue to identify, encourage and financially support the people the fashion business will depend on in the future. The British Fashion Council Education Foundation is committed to introducing young people to the huge variety of opportunities which now exist in the industry on the business sides as well as the creative. The money raised from this drive will underpin work in schools, support apprenticeships and enable BA and MA students to continue their studies. We are grateful for every philanthropic donation to this cause, which secures the future not just of talented young people, but of the industry itself."
Each year the awards are voted on by the BFC’s international judging panel, made up of over 800 key industry figures, from all corners of the fashion community. This celebration has been an important part of the British fashion calendar since 1989. Last year’s ceremony saw over 450 VIPs and industry heavyweights in attendance, alongside a sold out auditorium of over 2,000 guests, with attendees including Anna Wintour OBE, David Beckham OBE, Karl Lagerfeld, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, Nick Knight OBE, Olivier Rousteing, Samantha Cameron and Victoria Beckham.
Tickets for the general public will go on sale on Tuesday 3rd May 2016. For more information visit: fashionawards.com
The generosity and commitment of our sponsors is more vital than ever. Please help us by acknowledging our Principal Sponsor Swarovski for their support of the Fashion Awards 2016. Official Presenting Sponsors of the event are M•A•C, and TONI&GUY, with Mercedes-Benz as Official Sponsor.
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For British Fashion Council press enquiries please contact:
Emma Kelleher: emma.kelleher@britishfashioncouncil.com / +44 (0) 207 729 1986
Michalis Zodiatis: michalis.zodiatis@britishfashioncouncil.com / +44 (0) 207 729 1989
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For Swarovski press enquiries please contact:
Myriam Coudoux: myriam.coudoux@swarovski.com / +44 (0) 20 7255 8435
Peixi Lim: peixi.lim@swarovski.com / +44 (0) 20 7255 8415
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