Christopher Kane triumphs at Scottish Fashion Awards

Scottish fashion designer Christopher Kane who earlier this year joined the Kering portfolio of luxury labels has added the Scottish Designer of the Year accolade to his amazing year at last night’s Scottish Fashion Awards. Held in London

for the first time, the eight annual event named the designer, who was the toast of London Fashion Week and is on the brink of opening his first store as the best Scottish designer for the second year running, beating off competition from Jonathan Saunders, Holly Fulton and Louise Gray.

Co-hosted by Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP, the Secretary of State for Scotland and awards founder Dr Tessa Hartmann, the Scottish celebration of fashion recognised 14 categories from textile designer of the year to retailer of the year and an international award for the best use of Scottish fabric.

Christopher Kane, Louise Gray and Schuh win at Scottish Fashion Awards

Louise Gray, who this year suspend her own label and lost out on the top accolade, picked up the Scottish Innovator of the Year award for her “unique identity”, while eccentric designer Pam Hogg received the prestigious Creative Excellence award for her “skintight punk looks” that still define her collections today the same way they did in the 80’s.

French fashion house Chanel received the International Designer of the Year award for best use of Scottish textiles for their ‘Métiers D’Art Paris-Edinburgh’ collection, and Harris Tweed Hebrides collected the Scottish Ambassador of the Year award for their outstanding contribution to fashion.

Scottish Textile Designer of the Year was awarded to Alice Palmer, who established her label in 2008 after graduating from Glasgow School of Art with a knitted textiles degree and a Masters degree at London’s Royal College of Art. New British eyewear brand, Finlay & Co, scooped the Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year for their handmade wooden sunglasses, and Jennifer Morris was tipped as one to watch as Scottish Young Designer or the Year for her luxury ready-to-wear label.

There was also success for footwear retailer Schuh, who were named Scottish Retailer of the Year Schuh, honoured for their record breaking sales year in 2012, as well as the launch of their new kids concept stores and French website.

Commenting on the awards, Hartmann said: “The Scottish Fashion Awards are now a globally recognised event which acknowledges the finest fashion design, creative and textile talents we have in Scotland and indeed working around the world.

“It’s incredible to think how much the event has grown in just 8 years and we’re very proud this evening to celebrate the achievements of all the nominees in this magnificent building, Dover House.”

Other winners included former group president of Ralph Lauren Europe, Glaswegian Dr Brian Duffy, who was inducted into the Scottish Fashion Awards Hall of Fame, Mary Charteris was named Scottish Model of the Year, and Penny Martin, editor-in-chief of fashion magazine The Gentlewoman was awarded Scottish Communicator of the Year.