UKFT Awards nominees announced

Designers Christopher Raeburn, Alex Monroe and Karl Donoghue are amongst the shortlisted nominees for the 2013 UK Fashion and Textile Association awards. The awards due to take place on May 23 in London have been re-launched this

year to celebrate not only outstanding excellence in creativity, design and innovation, but also how each company performed commercially.

The three designers, Raeburn, Monroe and Donoghue have all been nominated in the Designer Business of the Year category, while Brand of the Year sees fashion retailer Ted Baker up against swimwear brand Orlebar Brown and sock label Pantherella.

Christopher Raeburn nominated for UKFT Award

Other categories include Accessories Business of the Year, which sees Cambridge Satchel Company shortlisted alongside Tatty Devine and Mark/Giusti, and Textile Business of the Year will see Dashing Tweeds up against Insley & Nash and Harris Tweed.

There were also nominations for Charlotte Taylor, Emma J Shipley and Hancock for the UKFT Rise Newcomer Award, and both Cambridge Satchel and Karl Donoghue receive second nominations for Exporter of the Year along with Eribe, a Scottish knitwear manufacturer.

The coveted prize of the night, the Let’s Make it Here UK Manufacturer of the Year will be contested between Harris Tweed, Pantherella and Johnstons of Elgin. There will also be prizes awarded for Retailer of the Year and an Outstanding Achievement Award, which will both be announced on the night.

Commenting on the shortlist, UKFT chief executive John Miln said: “The judges had an unenviable task as the entries this year were all exceptionally strong and very diverse in what they were bringing to the market and how they had been thriving in difficult times.

“The entries were inspiring and showed us all that the fashion and textile industry is world class and still leads the way not only creatively but also commercially.

“We cannot wait to celebrate with all of our shortlisted companies at the Awards some truly remarkable achievements.”

The event, in association with NatWest, will take place at One Mayfair in London and will feature a fashion show produced by Fashion Scout that will showcase some of the shortlisted labels collections.