In the first of the pre-announced awards for the 2015 British Fashion Awards we discover that it’s Karl Lagerfeld who will pick up an honour for Outstanding Achievement. The 82-year-old designer, who is showing no signs of slowing down, recently waded in on the pace of fashion after Raf Simons’s exit from Dior, saying, “The thing that I hate most are designers who accept those very well-paid jobs and then think the demand is too strong, that they are afraid of burnout, etc. It’s a full-time job, not an occupation between others. Fashion is a sport now: You have to run.” Clearly Karl will be continuing his impressive creative output across Chanel, Fendi and his own-label. Lagerfeld is being honoured not only for the beautiful clothes, but also his wider vision, creating the fashion world’s most talked about shows, launching the careers of supermodels and being a branding genius.
Natalie Massenet MBE said, “Karl Lagerfeld defines outstanding. He is the champion of excellence, the master of the exceptional and one of the most iconic figures globally from our industry. His life’s work for his own and so many extraordinary brands has written the language of fashion. He is the ultimate visionary and we celebrate not only the decades already passed but those yet to happen. In Karl’s hands the future of fashion will be an exceptional one.” The ceremony will take place at London’s Coliseum on 23rd November. Previous winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award include Anna Wintour OBE (2014), Terry and Tricia Jones (2013) and Manolo Blahnik CBE (2012).
Credits
Photography Harry Carr