Harold Tillman, Chairman of the British Fashion Council (BFC) has been bestowed the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Princess Royal this morning at Buckingham Palace. Tillman was appointed CBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours list for his services to the fashion industry.
Harold Tillman comments: ‘It is a real honour to be recognised in this way. The UK is home to some of the world's leading fashion brands and I am proud to be associated with a number of them through the British Fashion Council and directly with Jaeger and Aquascutum. I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to acquire these two wonderful British businesses with true heritage and be part of their revival.’
Harold Tillman, throughout a career spanning four decades, has established himself as an entrepreneur across fashion, retail and leisure and an ambassador and champion of British fashion. Tillman has revitalised a number of British businesses, currently owns and Chairs British heritage brands Jaeger and Aquascutum and was appointed Chairman of the British Fashion Council in 2008.
During his tenure at the BFC, Tillman has strengthened London Fashion Week’s reputation as a global showcase for British fashion design talent, and is credited with bringing Antonio Berardi, Burberry Prorsum, Jonathan Saunders, Matthew Williamson and Pringle of Scotland back to the London catwalk. As part of the BFC’s 25th anniversary celebrations he launched the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund to assist talented British designers.
Having studied at the London College of Fashion, Tillman’s services to the fashion industry began following an apprenticeship at Savile Row’s Kilgour, a tailoring business. He was fast-tracked to the role of the company’s Managing Director, and recruited a young Paul Smith to innovate the design department plus footballer George Best to promote the clothes; transforming Kilgour into a hugely successful brand of the late 1960s and 1970s.
Key to Tillman’s services to the fashion industry are his charitable achievements. He set up a scholarship at London College of Fashion in 2006, pledging £1 million to sponsor ten MA students each year. He also sits on the board of the Fashion Enterprise Forum, which raises money for young industry entrepreneurs and is Chairman of the Alumni Board for the University of the Arts London.
Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, comments: ‘Harold is an inspiring Chairman and driving force within the British Fashion Council and the industry as a whole. We are delighted that his achievements have been recognised in this way.’
See images from the event
For Harold Tillman press enquiries, please contact:
Alison Poole, Brunswick Group
jaeger@brunswickgroup.com
+44 (0) 020 7404 5959