On 1 December, London’s Royal Albert Hall will become the beating heart of global fashion as it hosts the Fashion Awards 2025. Organised by the British Fashion Council, the event is not only a celebration of creativity but also an important fundraiser for the BFC Foundation. Among the most coveted honours is Designer of the Year, a prize whose shortlist once again reflects the breadth of the fashion industry. Jonathan Anderson, already a two-time consecutive winner, returns with a double nomination — for his eponymous label and his new role as creative director at Dior. His biggest rival? Miuccia Prada, with her work at Miu Miu. A true clash of titans, though the competition promises to be fierce.
The shortlist
Six names are competing for the most prestigious award: Glenn Martens, recognised for his work at Diesel and Maison Margiela; Martine Rose; Miuccia Prada for Miu Miu; Rick Owens; and Willy Chavarria. All have been shortlisted for presenting bold collections that have shaped the industry and set new trends. Still, Anderson may well be the one to beat. His double nomination underlines a golden moment in his career, with Dior now added to the collections he oversees alongside his own brand. Should he win, he would be the first designer ever to claim the title three years in a row. Yet the “Miuccia Prada challenge” is set to be formidable: the designer, here competing with what is considered the “smaller” brand in the Prada galaxy, continues to redefine beauty and consistently ranks at the top of every chart.
Other categories
The British Womenswear Designer of the Year award will be contested by Simone Rocha, last year’s winner, and Sarah Burton, now creative director of Givenchy, alongside Alexandre Arsenault for Knwls, Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena for Chopova Lowena, and Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem. On the menswear front, Grace Wales Bonner seeks to defend her title against Craig Green, Foday Dumbuya for Labrum London, Kiko Kostadinov, Nicholas Daley, and the duo Stefan Cooke and Jake Burt (source: Fashion United). Meanwhile, the Vanguard Award highlights the new wave of creative talent, with Aaron Esh, Dilara Fındıkoğlu and Torishéju Dumi leading the charge with radical, inclusive visions. Finally, the Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Brunello Cucinelli, honoured for marrying luxury with social responsibility.
Photos: Prada, Dior and LVMH
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