BFC recognises designer Kim Jones as 2018 Trailblazer

The Trailblazer Award recognised Kim Jones’ always-on cultural zeitgeist, his reputation for challenging the norms whilst respecting heritage, history, creativity and innovation. 

"If the always on tap to culture zeitgeist is Jones' industry reputation, his love for travel, international cultures and understanding of consumers further enhance his creative and commercial standing.  Kim’s role as trailblazer in this industry continues to grow and we are very proud he is British born, educated and a great global ambassador for our industry," Caroline Rush, BFC chief executive, said.

"I am very happy to receive this award from the British Fashion Council. This recognition for my work means a lot to me," Jones, artistic director of Dior Menswear, said.

For the brands recent catwalk show in Tokyo, Kim Jones presented a 'darker and tougher' collection, a reinvention of the Dior classics, which dominated social and traditional media alike. Tokyo was the brands first pre-fall menswear show, and the first time any fashion house has presented its men’s pre-fall on the catwalk, setting the Dior menswear’s stall as the power player in menswear to rival the womenswear dominated global luxury brands and their bi-annual pre-collection global destination shows. This time, his collaboration with Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama pushed boundaries; the two are culturally, creatively and futuristically in tune, paying full respect to a nation and capital that Jones references as 'The Future'. 

The Fashion Awards is the main fundraiser for the BFC, a not for profit organisation focused on promoting excellence in British fashion and supporting the future pipeline of creative talent. As part of their continued and generous support of The Fashion Awards 2018, Swarovski has pledged a £300,000 donation to the BFC Education Foundation in advance of this year’s event. The BFC’s work is achieved through a range of charitable initiatives which focus on education, business and mentoring schemes that support talent from school level and emerging designers to fashion start-ups and established brands.

A Central Saint Martin graduate, Jones uses his platform as a designer and creative carefully, giving access to his customers and friends through his personal digital channels and more carefully through media interviews when he has something significant to say. His integrity in design is reflected in his generosity, which often manifests in generous reference to his peer group of designers, his mentors that he has learnt from, the young talent that seek his advice as well as fashion icons of past and present for their longevity, experience and impact on the industry. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India