Nan Goldin and Simone Rocha call for ‘free Palestine’ at The Fashion Awards

Last night the international fashion community got together for its annual knees up, celebrating the best of the industry from Britain and beyond. And though the mood at the 2024 Fashion Awards was one of celebration, some recipients used their acceptance speeches to cut through the noise and draw attention to the ongoing war in Gaza.

“I never thought I’d be in front of a fashion crowd,” Nan Goldin told the Royal Albert Hall, accepting the Special Recognition Award for lensing Gucci’s ‘We Will Always Have London’ campaign. “I’m very nervous.” The veteran photographer then went on to tell the thousands-strong crowd that “this is a beautiful place, and you’re all beautiful people wearing beautiful clothes, but you shouldn’t forget: Free Palestine.” The moment was met with a rapturous applause from the audience.

Later on in the ceremony, Irish designer Simone Rocha picked up the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award for her namesake brand, beating out the likes of Jonathan Anderson for Loewe and Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo. In her own impassioned speech, Rocha dedicated her award to those affected by ongoing crises around the world. “I’m very proud of the work I’ve produced,” she began. “My collections fuel my emotions. With this award I’d like to honour all the women and children who are displaced,” the designer continued, before adding, “Free Palestine.”

Elsewhere, Alex Consani became the first trans woman to win Model of the Year, and dedicated the award to “those who came before me, specifically the Black trans women who really fought for the space I’m in today.” Dazed faves Chopova Lowena also picked up the British Fashion Council’s Foundation Award, Marco Capaldo beat off stiff competition to win the New Establishment Womenswear award for 16Arlington, and Debbie Harry took to the stage for a surprise performance in honour of Gucci and Nan Goldin’s triumph. See below for the full list of winners.

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and Loewe

MODEL OF THE YEAR

Alex Consani

BRITISH WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha

BRITISH MENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Grace Wales Bonner for Wales Bonner

NEW ESTABLISHMENT WOMENSWEAR

Marco Capaldo for 16Arlington

NEW ESTABLISHMENT MENSWEAR

Priya Ahluwalia for Ahluwalia

BRITISH ACCESSORIES DESIGNER

Stephen Jones for Stephen Jones

ISABELLA BLOW AWARD FOR FASHION CREATOR

Tyler Mitchell

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Dame Margaret Barbour

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou (10 magazine)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Nan Goldin and Gucci

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Tom Ford

BFC FOUNDATION AWARD

Chopova Lowena