Last night the international fashion community got together for its annual knees up, celebrating the best of the industry from Britain and beyond. And though the mood at the 2024 Fashion Awards was one of celebration, some recipients used their acceptance speeches to cut through the noise and draw attention to the ongoing war in Gaza.
“I never thought I’d be in front of a fashion crowd,” Nan Goldin told the Royal Albert Hall, accepting the Special Recognition Award for lensing Gucci’s ‘We Will Always Have London’ campaign. “I’m very nervous.” The veteran photographer then went on to tell the thousands-strong crowd that “this is a beautiful place, and you’re all beautiful people wearing beautiful clothes, but you shouldn’t forget: Free Palestine.” The moment was met with a rapturous applause from the audience.
Later on in the ceremony, Irish designer Simone Rocha picked up the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award for her namesake brand, beating out the likes of Jonathan Anderson for Loewe and Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo. In her own impassioned speech, Rocha dedicated her award to those affected by ongoing crises around the world. “I’m very proud of the work I’ve produced,” she began. “My collections fuel my emotions. With this award I’d like to honour all the women and children who are displaced,” the designer continued, before adding, “Free Palestine.”
Elsewhere, Alex Consani became the first trans woman to win Model of the Year, and dedicated the award to “those who came before me, specifically the Black trans women who really fought for the space I’m in today.” Dazed faves Chopova Lowena also picked up the British Fashion Council’s Foundation Award, Marco Capaldo beat off stiff competition to win the New Establishment Womenswear award for 16Arlingtonand Debbie Harry took to the stage for a surprise performance in honour of Gucci and Nan Goldin’s triumph. See below for the full list of winners.
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and Loewe
MODEL OF THE YEAR
Alex Consani
BRITISH WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
BRITISH MENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner
NEW ESTABLISHMENT WOMENSWEAR
Marco Capaldo for 16Arlington
NEW ESTABLISHMENT MENSWEAR
Priya Ahluwalia for Ahluwalia
BRITISH ACCESSORIES DESIGNER
Stephen Jones for Stephen Jones
ISABELLA BLOW AWARD FOR FASHION CREATOR
Tyler Mitchell
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Dame Margaret Barbour
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou (10 magazine)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Here’s Goldin and Gucci
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Tom Ford
BFC FOUNDATION AWARD
Chopova Lowena
Swiss
