All Change At The BFAs

The British Fashion Council has announced a shake-up to its usual British Fashion Awards categories today. In addition to dropping the "British" from the title making it just the Fashion Awards, it is opening up several awards to international designers and brands, as well as adding new accolades to the line-up.

Whereas in the past all winners had to be Brit based, with the exception of the International Designer Award, it is now only the British Menswear Designer of the Year, British Womenswear Designer of the Year, British Brand and Emerging Talent Awards that hold any stipulation.

The new awards are for Urban Luxury, Creative Influencer, Business Leader, Ready-to-Wear Designer of the Year, and the SWAROVSKI Award for Positive Change. Meanwhile, previous awards for Emerging Womenswear Designer, Emerging Menswear Designer, Emerging Accessory Designer, Red Carpet Designer, Creative Campaign, New Establishment Designer, British Style - Fashion Innovator, British Style - Red Carpet Ambassador and Establishment Designer have been cut.

Out of the 15 awards that will be revealed on the night, 10 will be voted for by a prestigious voting panel (comprising members of the media, retailers, CEOs and creatives) and the Fashion Icon award will be voted for by the public. The special recognition awards will, as usual, be announced ahead of the ceremony which takes place on December 5.

The announcement of the revised categories comes as the BFC prepares to upscale its usual Coliseum ceremony to a Met Ball-style extravaganza at the Royal Albert Hall. See the full list of categories below.

British Awards

British Menswear Designer of the Year
British Womenswear Designer of the Year
British Brand
Emerging Talent Award

British and International Awards

Ready-to-Wear Designer of the Year
Accessories Designer of the Year
Urban Luxury
Creative Influencer
Business Leader
Model of the Year
Fashion Icon (voted for by the public)

Special Recognition Awards (British and International)

Outstanding Achievement Award

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator
Special Recognition Award
SWAROVSKI Award for Positive Change