The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce that The Fashion Awards 2017 in partnership with Swarovski will take place on Monday 4th December, returning to iconic London venue The Royal Albert Hall. The annual celebration of fashion excellence will once again shine a spotlight on exceptional individuals and businesses, both British and international, that have made incredible contributions to the global fashion industry. The Fashion Awards are the primary fundraiser for the BFC’s Education Foundation; the legacy of the awards is to secure the future generation of fashion talent while celebrating the outstanding contributions of current industry leaders.

SWAROVSKI PLEDGES £300,000 TO THE BFC EDUCATION FOUNDATION

As part of their continued and generous support of The Fashion Awards 2017, Swarovski has pledged £300,000 to the BFC Education Foundation in advance of the night itself. With the designers behind some of the world’s most acclaimed brands educated in Britain, the BFC and Swarovski are both committed to ensuring that young talent has access to the best education available, regardless of financial background. By raising funds for the BFC Education Foundation each year, The Fashion Awards aims to secure a sustainable lifeline for the future generation of the industry, whose ability to study is impacted by the current level of tuition fees and living expenses.

Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, commented: “An essential part of Swarovski’s mission is to nurture young designers and invest in the next generation of fashion talent. Our mission aligns brilliantly with the British Fashion Council and The Fashion Awards, as these awards are both a celebration of the best in global fashion, and a vital platform to raise funds for the BFC’s Education Foundation. Young designers are the heartbeat of our business, and it’s up to all of us to foster and champion their visions to keep our industry thriving.”

Dame Natalie Massenet, Chairman British Fashion Council commented: “Last year we set the goal of raising £10million in 10 years to educate talented young people. The resounding success of last year’s Awards, as a spectacular gala to honour so many incredible individuals and also as a fundraiser, reinforces that this is a target that the industry supports. Swarovski and the BFC share the goal to promote, support and educate talent. We thank Swarovski for their generosity in supporting The Fashion Awards and our Education Foundation and look forward to welcoming the fashion industry on December 4th in London.”

Education is one of the BFC’s five Strategic Pillars. The Fashion Awards 2016 raised a total of £700,000 from which £300,000 was donated to the BFC Education Foundation and £400,000 invested in NEWGEN, Business Support and the BFC Colleges Council. In the last academic year, the BFC’s Education Foundation has awarded over £100,000 across 12 BA and MA scholarships. The donation from last year’s awards will allow the BFC to broaden the variety and number of scholarships for the upcoming academic year. The success of students who have already benefitted from the Education Foundation is a reminder of how vital this funding is – and The Fashion Awards will help to secure the future education of many more like them.

THE FASHION AWARDS 2017 AWARD CATEGORIES

The Fashion Awards are the international ceremony for the fashion industry, celebrating the best of British and international talent. London is globally recognised for its creative talent and businesses and is therefore the best place to celebrate the incredible success of our home-grown designers but also those who play an important part in our industry’s culture and reputation.

The event brings together attendees including designers, brands, business leaders, influencers, creatives, investors, media, VIPs, students and members of the public to celebrate the year in fashion. The diversity of the audience reflects the culture of the industry, and the awards recognise not just designers but the wide constellation of talented people who bring fashion to life.

Nominees and winners for The Fashion Awards 2017 will be voted on by an international judging panel, made up of over 2,000 key industry figures from all corners of the fashion industry. The awards which the panel will be asked to vote on this year are as follows:

Accessories Designer of the Year

British Designer of the Year – Menswear

British Designer of the Year – Womenswear

British Emerging Talent – Menswear (including accessories)

British Emerging Talent – Womenswear (including accessories)

Business Leader

Designer of the Year

Model of the Year

Urban Luxury Brand

A number of special recognition awards are also presented on the night, and are announced in advance of the event itself, in recognition of the weight of the achievements they represent. These accolades are as follows: The Outstanding Achievement Award, the Swarovski Award for Positive Change and the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator.