2009

The British Fashion Council introduce two new awards for

Hosted at the Royal Courts of Justice on its 25th anniversary, The British Fashion Council introduces two new awards; Outstanding contribution to British fashion and London 25, an award voted for by the public.

2008    

Two new awards for emerging talent

Event is staged at the Lawrence Hall, Westminster and, for the third consecutive year, is supported by Swarovski, which also sponsors two new awards – The Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards for Ready-to-Wear and for Accessories.

2007

Stylist Isabella Blow remembered

Fashion Creator Award is renamed Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator in honour of Isabella Blow, who tragically died on May 7, 2007. Blow was renowned for her unerring support of British designers and for her contribution to the international fashion industry as a whole. The BFC also creates BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Award. Event moves to RHS’s Lawrence Hall in Westminster and is sponsored by Swarovski.

2006

British Fashion Council introduces £50k BFC Enterprise Award

Staged at the Victoria & Albert Museum and sponsored by Swarovski. BFC introduces BFC Enterprise Award, a major cash prize, which is won by Jonathan Saunders.

2004

Victoria & Albert Museum backs Fashion Achiever Award

Major British arts institution, which also stages the Awards this year, backs new V&A Fashion Achiever Award, which is collected by photographer David Bailey, and then journalist Suzy Menkes, OBE, in 2005, and retailer Joan Burstein, CBE, in 2006

2003

TV, film and music injection creates British Style Awards

For one year only, the BFC industry partners with Lycra to throw open the awards categories to the TV, film and music industries, giving birth to the hybrid British Style Awards at Old Billingsgate Market.  

2001

HRH Prince of Wales attends as Guest of Honour

Battersea Park Arena is honoured with the presence of HRH Prince of Wales, who attends event as Guest of Honour. Sir Paul Smith’s knighthood, received the previous year for services to the fashion industry, is celebrated. Rover is sponsor for second year; BBC 2 covers the event.

British car brand Rover partners the BFC, introducing the People’s Choice Award to the line-up, won in its first year by Alexander McQueen. Returns to the Natural History Museum.

1998-99

British Fashion Awards celebrates 10th anniversary

Sky News sponsors gala event marking a decade since the inception of the British Fashion Awards.

1997

Alexander McQueen scoops Designer of the Year for a second year

Event, held at The Royal Albert Hall, is sponsored by Lloyds for eighth and final year.

1996

Awards return to The Royal Albert Hall

Lloyds continues to sponsor event as it returns to its first home.

1995

Fashion cognoscenti honour Jean Muir

Held at the Natural History Museum for a second year, ceremony includes a tribute to Jean Muir, who passed away on May 28 that year, aged 66.

1992

Event moves to Grosvenor House 

1991

The Duke of York’s Headquarters becomes event venue

1990

Diana, Princess of Wales attends as Guest of Honour

The ‘People’s Princess’ attends the second British Fashion Awards. Leading banking company Lloyds comes on board as headline sponsor of the event, a partnership which lasts for eight years.

1989

The annual British Fashion Awards is born

Following the success of its Designer of the Year award, launched in 1984, the British Fashion Council evolves the concept into the British Fashion Awards, recognising a wider spectrum of designers and also photographers. Held at The Royal Albert Hall, and sponsored by Clairol, seven awards are presented on the night.

1984

British Fashion Council introduces Designer of the Year Award

Agenda-setting designer Katharine Hamnett scoops the BFC’s first ever Designer of the Year Award. The same year, she famously wore her '58% DON'T WANT PERSHING' t-shirt to meet the then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Hamnett remains as relevant today as she did 25 years ago.