BFC to honour Valentino Garavani with outstanding achievement award

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced that Valentino Garavani, founder and former creative director of the Maison Valentino, will receive the outstanding achievement award at The Fashion Awards 2023. His incredible body of work will be celebrated on December 4 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The Fashion Awards, organised by the BFC, are the primary fundraiser for the BFC Foundation and celebrate the role of fashion at the intersection of culture and entertainment, spotlighting creative talent and telling the stories of the year in fashion through the lens of purpose, excellence and creativity.

Valentino is universally admired for his exquisite and groundbreaking couture creations and red-carpet gowns. Over his nearly 50 years as a designer, Valentino constructed gowns for influential and prestigious actresses, society ladies and politicians. Valentino’s extraordinary designs, dedication to craftsmanship, ubiquitous branding and business acumen have left an indelible mark on the fashion world and cemented him as a legend of haute couture, BFC said in a press release.

"It is a tremendous honour to receive the outstanding achievement award. Throughout the years, I have been fortunate to witness the transformative power of fashion and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have had. To be honoured in London, one of my most beloved cities, makes this momentous occasion even more special. I am truly humbled, and I hope to continue to inspire future generations of designers to challenge conventional norms and wholeheartedly embrace innovation, beauty, and glamour,” Valentino said.

"We are thrilled to present Valentino with the Outstanding Achievement Award for his game-changing approach and pursuit to push boundaries throughout his long-spanning career. Valentino is a true visionary whose boundless creativity, innovative designs, and dedication to craftsmanship, have revolutionised the fashion industry. Valentino’s contributions and achievements are unparalleled, and he has not only set new standards of excellence but also inspired generations of designers. We look forward to celebrating him in London this December,” Caroline Rush, chief executive, British Fashion Council, said.

The outstanding achievement award celebrates the overwhelming creative contribution of an individual to the fashion industry, who throughout their illustrious career has constantly shaped and reshaped the fashion world through their innovation and creativity. Previous winners of the Award include Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada, Ralph Lauren KBE, Karl Lagerfeld, Dame Anna Wintour, Terry and Tricia Jones and Manolo Blahnik CBE to name only a few.

The Fashion Awards brings together a global community in London, the home of fashion creativity, to amplify leaders of change, celebrate excellence in creativity and support the next generation of creative talent. The event is the primary fundraiser of the BFC Foundation which supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on education, grant-giving and business mentoring.