British Fashion Awards 2025

A Hat-Trick at the top

At the 2025 The Fashion Awards 2025 — held at the Royal Albert Hall — Jonathan Anderson was awarded Designer of the Year for the third consecutive year, underlining his dominant and continuing influence in global fashion.

A double role — from JW Anderson to Dior
He won the award for his work across two major fronts: his own label, JW Anderson, which he revitalised recently (expanding into lifestyle, homewares and more), and his new role as creative director of both menswear and womenswear at luxury house Dior.

A signature style that blurs boundaries
Since launching JW Anderson in 2008, Anderson has built a reputation for challenging traditional menswear/feminine-wear distinctions. His design aesthetic mixes menswear and womenswear codes, reimagining silhouettes in ways that feel both contemporary and boundary-pushing. That fluid, thoughtful approach has earned JW Anderson a cult following and critical acclaim.

Respect from industry and peers — and backing from the institutions
Anderson’s success has been nurtured over many years. Early support through programs from the British Fashion Council (BFC) helped JW Anderson get runway space at London Fashion Week; now he’s not just thriving but reshaping what modern luxury fashion can be.

Sarah Burton was honoured with the prestigious Womenswear Designer of the Year title, celebrating her extraordinary impact on global fashion.

The award recognises Burton’s continued influence across decades of work — from her celebrated era at Alexander McQueen to her powerful new chapter as Creative Director of Givenchy.

Burton’s win highlights her remarkable ability to blend craftsmanship, emotion and storytelling in a way few designers can. Her work is defined by meticulous detailing, sculptural silhouettes and a deep respect for fashion’s heritage — qualities that have shaped some of the most unforgettable collections of the past 20 years.

The award also acknowledges the range of Burton’s influence: from iconic red-carpet and royal gowns to the bold, modern couture and refined elegance she is now bringing to Givenchy. Her debut collections for the house reaffirmed her signature balance of strength and softness, precision and poetry.

This year’s honour cements Sarah Burton as one of the defining womenswear designers of her generation — a creative force whose vision continues to shape the direction of both British and global fashion.

Versatile Vision: Burton has seamlessly moved from dramatic, couture-heavy designs at McQueen to refined, modern elegance at Givenchy — showing she can master both theatrical artistry and understated luxury.

Legacy + Reinvention: She helped carry forward McQueen’s legacy after its founder’s death — while evolving the brand’s language — and now brings fresh creative leadership to one of fashion’s great houses.

Cultural & Celebrity Impact: Her designs have adorned royalty (the Princess of Wales), screen stars, global celebrities, and appeared on red carpets and elite events, cementing her influence across fashion and pop culture.

Broad Range: From wedding gowns, couture gowns, ready-to-wear, tailoring, haute couture and modern street-to-luxury transition — her portfolio spans almost every corner of women’s fashion.

Grace Wales Bonner was honoured for the 2nd year in a row with the coveted Menswear Designer of the Year title — a recognition of her bold vision, cultural sensitivity, and lasting impact on the fashion world.

For more than a decade, she has used her eponymous label to challenge and expand the language of menswear — weaving together European tailoring, Afro-Atlantic heritage and a deeply intellectual understanding of identity and history.

Why She’s a Defining Voice in Contemporary Menswear

A brand built on cultural storytelling and scholarship
Since launching her label in 2014 (after graduating from Central Saint Martins), Wales Bonner has approached fashion as a medium for exploring heritage, identity and diaspora. Her designs often reference music, literature, history and visual art — creating garments that carry meaning as much as style.
Fusion of tailoring and heritage
Her collections fuse classic European tailoring with Afro-Atlantic influences — creating a distinctive aesthetic that balances elegance with cultural resonance. This blend is widely recognized as a breakthrough in modern menswear design.
International recognition and influence
Prior to this year’s award, Grace Wales Bonner had already won major honours, including the LVMH Young Designer Prize (2016), the CFDA International Men's Designer of the Year (2021), and the British Fashion Council / Vogue Designer Fashion Fund (2019). Leading a new chapter at a luxury house
In 2025 she was named creative director of men’s ready-to-wear for the luxury house Hermès — becoming the first Black woman to head menswear design at a major European luxury house. Her first collection for Hermès is eagerly anticipated.

Brunello Cucinelli was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award, recognising a career that has profoundly shaped global fashion.

The award celebrates Cucinelli’s “exceptional contribution to the world of fashion,” highlighting not just his design talent, but his pioneering vision — a combination of luxury, craftsmanship and ethical business practices.
In particular, the honour acknowledges how his brand transformed the luxury cashmere sector — elevating it from basic knitwear to a symbol of refined, understated elegance and “quiet luxury.”

A Legacy Beyond Fashion — Humanistic Capitalism & Craftsmanship
Cucinelli is widely celebrated not just as a designer, but as a visionary entrepreneur. He built his eponymous brand from humble beginnings in 1978, turning it into a global luxury house rooted in “Made in Italy” craftsmanship — while prioritising dignity, fair labour and sustainable practice for his artisans in Umbria.

He’s turned his hometown of Solomeo into the beating heart of his company: restoring its historic buildings, supporting local artisans, and promoting a philosophy that marries profit with humanity.

What His Work Represents Today
The brand stands for timeless elegance, artisanal quality, and understated luxury. Cucinelli’s approach eschews flashy logos and instead emphasizes craftsmanship, premium fabrics (especially cashmere), and wearable sophistication.
His recognition with the Outstanding Achievement Award places him alongside legendary fashion leaders — past recipients include iconic names like Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren and Miuccia Prada — underscoring his enduring influence on how we define luxury and conscious fashion in the 21st century.

Anok Yai was honoured with Model of the Year, a recognition of her extraordinary influence, versatility and global prominence over the last 12 months.

This title acknowledges far more than just a single campaign or runway: it affirms her status as a true cultural icon whose impact resonates across fashion, media, and social‑cultural conversations.

From Viral Discovery to Global Supermodel

Anok’s journey began in 2017 — a single street‑style photo taken during a homecoming at Howard University went viral, catching the eye of scouts and launching her modelling career. Within months, she signed with a major agency — a striking example of how unpredictable, rapid success can be.
In 2018 she made runway history — becoming the second Black model ever to open a show for Prada, and the first Sudanese model to do so. That moment helped redefine who could hold space on the world’s most elite catwalks.

A Year of Runway Triumphs, Campaigns & Influence

2025 has been a landmark year for Anok Yai:
She’s fronted campaigns for major fashion houses, including Versace, Saint Laurent, and Mugler, and remained the face of Mugler’s “Alien” fragrance.
Her editorial presence has been just as strong — covers and spreads for magazines like Vogue France, Perfect, and Allure.
On the runway she’s opened and closed shows for top-tier brands across multiple fashion capitals, contributing to a season of high demand and undeniable runway presence.

Why This Award Matters — Beyond LooksAnok Yai’s win is significant for multiple reasons:

Representation and visibility: As someone of Sudanese descent, her prominence challenges and expands global beauty standards. Her success demonstrates that fashion’s highest levels can — and should — reflect global diversity.
Versatility: She’s not just a runway model — she’s equally at home in high‑fashion campaigns, editorial spreads, fragrance ads, and red‑carpet moments. This breadth makes her a modern “complete” supermodel.

Cultural impact: Her journey — from a viral photo at university, to global runways and campaigns — has become emblematic of possibility, determination and breaking industry barriers. Her speech upon accepting the award resonated with many, especially those who see their own stories reflected in her

In her acceptance of the award she said she was told her career would only last 6 months ....'its been a long six months hugh?' she joked.
then through her tears '"To all the little black girls watching me right now, your colour is not a curse… you are more powerful than you can imagine".
Her Instagram post following the win simply said 'Mamma; I think we made it'
@anokyai