Victoria Beckham wins at the WGSN Global Fashion Awards

Victoria Beckham and Kim Jones for Louis Vuitton were among the winners at last night’s WGSN Global Fashion Awards, which were unveiled at a ceremony held at The Savoy, London. Hosted by Cat Deeley, the awards that have previously

 been held in New York, honour fashion’s most inspirational and innovative individuals and businesses with prizes for design, buying, and retail.

British singer-turned-fashion designer Beckham scooped the top accolade being named womenswear designer of the year ahead of Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders and Alexander Wang for being a label that “sets the agenda for the rest of the industry”.

The judging panel, which included the likes of Topshop's managing director Mary Homer, Bally’s creative director Michael Herz and accessories designer Laura Bohinc, said of Beckham: “In just five years Victoria Beckham has gone from creating handful of dresses to building a truly modern and covetable luxury brand, defying cynics and winning over the critics in the process. This is her year.”

The menswear designer of the year went to Kim Jones for Louis Vuitton, who was honoured by the judges for being: “One of the only designers who can turn his hand to street, high street and luxury fashion with equal aplomb. Now in his third season at Louis Vuitton his travel-inspired collections are true to the house’s heritage while also showcasing his unique edge.”

Other winners included Topshop who won Womenswear Design Team of the year; Mr Porter picked up the Best E-Store award; Aurora Fashions was named Best Multichannel Retailer; and The Cambridge Satchel Company was the surprise win of the night, beating off tough competition from Marc by Marc Jacobs and Kurt Geiger to win the Footwear & Accessories Design Team accolade.

Additionally, Emma Yeo was crowned Emerging Designer of the year; Charlotte Olympia won Footwear & Accessories Designer; and Mexican department store El Palacio de Hierro won the ultimate award for any fashion retailer to be named Best Store, beating Selfridges, Harrods, Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford, and Barneys New York.

There was also an award for renowned fashion photographer Rankin, who received the highest honour of the night, the ‘Hall of Fame’ award, for being “an individual who not only has contributed immensely to, but who has helped to monumentally shape the fields of fashion, creativity and design, whilst continuing to trail blaze, innovate and inspire those around them”.

Image: Victoria Beckham SS13