As the fashion industry approaches the end of another calendar year, we are also entering the season when gongs are being handed out. And that is very much the case, too, for the non-profit organisation that champions the sustainable growth and impact of British fashion around the globe. 

We are, of course, referring to the British Fashion Council (BFC), which recently confirmed the nominees for The Fashion Awards 2023 (TFA). The awards ceremony itself, which is organised by the BFC, is set to be held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Monday 4^th December 2023. 

In the words of the organisers, The Fashion Awards serve as “the primary fundraiser by the BFC Foundation and celebrate the role of fashion at the intersection of culture and entertainment, spotlighting creative talent and telling the stories of the year in fashion through the lens of purpose, excellence, and creativity.” 

It will be cause for much excitement among many fashion brands, then – including a fair few represented in Skywire London’s own luxury creative portfolio – that the nominees for five award categories have now been announced. 

‍What are the TFA award categories, and who are the nominees? 

Take a deep breath; the categories, and their respective nominees, are as follows: 

• Model of the Year, for which Alton Mason, Anok Yai, Kai-Isaiah Jamal, Liu Wen, Mona Tougaard, and Paloma Elsesser have been nominated;  
• British Menswear Designer of the Year, encompassing nominees Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner, Kiko Kostadinov for Kiko Kostadinov, Kim Jones for Dior Men, Martine Rose for Martine Rose, and Steven Stokey-Daley for S.S.DALEY
• British Womenswear Designer of the Year, for which the nominees include Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem, Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo, Nensi Dojaka for Nensi Dojaka, Roksanda Ilinčić for ROKSANDA, and Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
• New Establishment Menswear, with nominees including Bianca Saunders, Corteiz, LABRUM London, Nicholas Daley, and Saul Nash
• New Establishment Womenswear, for which the nominees are Chopova Lowena, Dilara Fındıkoğlu, KNWLS, ROBERT WUN, and Supriya Lele

Naturally, these categories put the spotlight on certain segments of remarkable individuals in today’s fashion scene in the UK. The “Model of the Year” category, for example, seeks to recognise the international impact of a model who has spent the last 12 months dominating the industry, and whose influence goes beyond the catwalk. 

The menswear and womenswear categories, meanwhile, are about recognising “leading” designers who have “consistently made a global impact with their innovative and creative designs”. 

The “New Establishment” categories are also sure to raise an eyebrow or two among well-placed fashion-sector observers. The aim of each of these categories, the BFC has said, is to recognise a “designer who has created a new movement in British fashion and has had a sustained impact on the industry globally.” 

Now that the nominee shortlists for the above categories have been determined, it will be up to a Voting Committee – comprising what the BFC has described as “1,000 leading industry members” – to vote on the winners. This year, the organisation added, the public would have a chance to vote for the Model of the Year. 

It is also important to note that the aforementioned award categories are not the only ones that will be represented at the December ceremony. Nominees for both the Designer of the Year category and BFC Foundation Award will be announced in November. And there will also be several other accolades handed out, including the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, Outstanding Achievement Award, Leader of Change, and multiple Special Recognition Awards. 

Readers who are interested in learning more about what’s in store, are advised to check out the BFC’s news release announcing the latest nominees. 

‍In the meantime, you could be putting your own brand in an even stronger position to succeed 

We mentioned our own formidable luxury creative portfolio above, and you are very welcome to browse it online, to learn more about what the breadth and depth of the expertise of our digital, creative, and strategic professionals. 

Or, if you would like to get down to business discussing the possibilities for how we could work together, why not reach out directly to our team? We would be delighted to explore together how we could help extract your brand’s very greatest potential well into 2024, and beyond.