#TOGETHERBAND Co-creators Cameron Saul and Oliver Wayman joined the event at London’s Royal Albert Hall. This year was particularly important for us because we collaborated with the British Fashion Council on a new, special Black On Black Edition bracelet to promote diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry. Our exclusive new #TOGETHERBAND launched at The British Fashion Awards as a powerful symbol of support for a sustainable long-term future for the British fashion world and its newest talent. The bracelet features a limited edition black clasp and aims to help drive awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and raise funds for the British Fashion Council Foundation, a charity which promotes equality to ensure the fashion industry is truly diverse and accessible to all.

Last night’s roll-call of talent included Ib Kamara, Editor of Dazed magazine, who was presented with the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator which recognises the best innovators and creatives in fashion whose contributions have shaken up the entire fashion landscape. Kamara’s incredible work has been featured in British, French and Italian VOGUE, AnOther and i-D, to name a few. He has consulted for brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Erdem and collaborated with artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Madonna. Previous winners of this awards include VOGUE Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful OBE, artist Nick Knight OBE and Dame Pat McGrath.

Tommy Hilfiger was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award for his 35-year contribution to the global fashion industry and his commitment to creating an inclusive brand that champions people from all backgrounds and experiences. 

Kim Jones, Artistic Director for Dior Men and Fendi, won Designer of the Year, recognition of the impact he’s had on the industry in defining the shape of global fashion. Alessandro Michele won the Trailblazer Award for his visionary work in positioning Gucci at the intersection of culture, art, music and film. The Independent British Designer Award went to Irish designer Simone Rocha, daughter of designer John Rocha CBE, for her own label, Simone Rocha. Veteran fashion journalist Dylan Jones OBE, who edited GQ magazine from 1999 to 2021, won The Special Recognition Award.

The BFC Foundation Award aims to recognise an emerging designer talent, who’s had a major creative impact on the global fashion scene over the past year, and has received financial and mentoring support from the BFC Foundation. The proud winner was Albanian designer Nensi Dojaka, hailed one of the freshest forces in womenswear right now. She also won the prestigious LVMH Prize for emerging talent back in September. (See other winners listed at the end).

The Fashion Awards were presented by TikTok, hosted by TikTok creator Tega Alexander, designer Henry Holland and comedian/author Elsa Majimbo. As guests arrived on the red carpet singer/songwriter Griff braved the cold to perform live. 2021 has been a breakthrough year for the artist and self-taught producer, after she became the first female artist to reach the top five in the charts with a mixtape.

The British Fashion Council is a not-for-profit organisation that harnesses the collective power of the industry to strengthen British fashion in the global economy. We’ve chosen to donate proceeds from the sales of Black On Black Edition #TOGETHERBANDs to the BFC Foundation, a pioneering charity which aims to support the growth and success of the British fashion industry by focussing on education, grant-giving and business mentoring for new designers. To ensure the future of a more sustainable and equitable British fashion industry, it’s vital we champion a more diverse talent pool and help community-minded businesses.

Figures show that Black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) workers have been worst affected by job cuts during the pandemic, according to analysis that shows the number of BAME people in employment dropped by 26 times more than the number of white workers over the same period. Right now, as the world deals with the repercussions of the pandemic, times are tough for new graduates and young people with a long-held dream to work in fashion. By supporting the BFC Foundation, we can help more young people to achieve their ambition – especially those facing prejudice, setbacks and financial barriers.

The new Black On Black Edition band, featuring a sleek black clasp, is made from recycled Parley Ocean Plastic®️ and Humanium Metal. This precious metal is created by melting down seized illegal firearms, the production of which helps put an end to armed violence in El Salvador, one of the world’s most violent countries. Join us in showing your support.

 The Leaders of Change

The 2021 accolades also included 15 Leaders of Change; the designers, brands, creatives and individuals who created positive change within the fashion industry over the past year under three categories: Environment, People and Creativity.

For Creativity

Virgil Abloha

Kim Jones OBE

Jonathan Anderson

Alessandro Michele

Demna Gvasalia

For Environment 

Stella McCartney

Bethany Williams

Gabriela Hearst

Phoebe English

Priya Ahluwaliya

For People

Edward Enninful OBE

Harris Reed

Kenya Hunt

Samuel Ross

Telfar Clemens