Kate Middleton Honors Patrick McDowell With Queen Elizabeth II British Design Award
LONDON – Patrick McDowell, founder and creative director of his namesake label, has won the 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, presented the award to McDowell during a ceremony at 180 Studios on Tuesday as part of the BFC Foundation impact announcement day.
More from WWD
Kim Kardashian's $4 Billion Skims Brand to Open in London in Summer 2026
K-Way's 60th Anniversary Exhibition Arrives in London
King Charles Can't Get Enough of the Printed Word
The space was set up as a fashion studio with workers in white coats doing fittings on models, embroidering on fabric, and explaining the design to Middleton, who opted for an olive green patch pocket blazer with matching trousers by Victoria Beckham for the occasion.
McDowell, dressed in a grey Prince of Wales check suit made from deadstock fabric supplied by Burberry, is the eighth recipient of the award, which recognizes young designers who are making a difference through sustainable practices or community engagement.
Previous winners of the award are Richard Quinn, Bethany Williams, Rosh Mahtani of Alighieri, Priya Ahluwalia, Saul Nash, Foday Dumbuya of Labrum London, and Steven Stokey-Daley of S.S. Daley.
McDowell has championed sustainable fashion since he unveiled his label at London Fashion Week in 2018 after graduating from London's Central Saint Martins.
Over the years, he has teamed with new material and biotech firms to create experimental fashion. He turns surplus and deadstock material from brands including Burberry and Swarovski, and archival outfits and fabrics from institutions such as Rambert, Britain's oldest dance company, into modern creations.
Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Keira Knightley have all worn his designs.
The designer is also a participant in the BFC's Low Carbon Transition Program, an initiative led by the BFC's Institute of Positive Fashion, created to help educate London-based businesses on decarbonizing supply chains.
The designer said that having the Princess of Wales, who has recently taken on more public duties after undergoing cancer treatment last year, hand the award to him felt 'incredible.'
The designer said in an interview that seeing 'two incredible institutions in the U.K., the royal family and the British Fashion Council, using their platforms to support my small, circular luxury brand is an incredible accolade.'
He added: 'I know [the princess] is personally very interested in British craftsmanship. It means a lot to me. It's an award that is centered around craftsmanship and sustainable practice, which is something truly at the heart of what we do. I hope that it will help propel the business forward, will open many more doors and eyes to what we're doing.'
McDowell works with a direct-to-consumer model, offering made-to-order pieces ranging from 800 pounds to 3,000 pounds, a price point he considers very competitive. His team is lean – just four people – and he caters to clients from around the world.
He said his clients are 'looking for something unique, and the idea is to give people something for the same price as an off-the-peg design, but they get this special experience.'
The brand shows sporadically during London Fashion Week, and does not always follow the seasonal calendar.
'Regardless of the collections, the main thing is that we're focusing on the craftsmanship and trying to make pieces that fit and suit the people wearing them, so they're able to cherish them for much longer. We also offer services like repair and redesign on those pieces after purchase, so clients can keep loving them,' said McDowell.
McDowell said his clients tend to be people who already have an incredible wardrobe and who want something with a bit more individuality.
'All of our pieces are numbered, and made in extremely small quantities. You get your name and the number embroidered into the labels. It's more like a dressmaker relationship with the clients. People want to meet the person making the clothes. They want all those stories attached to the pieces that they're wearing,' he added.
McDowell has also worked in other creative fields, and always through a sustainable lens. During COVID-19, he delivered a high-drama digital runway show for Helsinki Fashion Week. In 2022, he designed a garden bar inspired by Studio 54 for the Chelsea Flower Show.
He has corporate experience, too. In 2021, he was appointed sustainability design director at Pinko, a five-year collaboration that lasted until December 2024. There, McDowell was tasked with making the brand more sustainable, together with Pinko founder and CEO Pietro Negra.
Since 2018, the BFC has selected a designer, in collaboration with the Royal Household, for the award. The trophy is inspired by the Queen Elizabeth rose and is hand-produced by Lucy Price at Bauhinia Studios in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.
The award ceremony was part of the annual BFC Foundation impact announcement day, which also unveiled the recipients of several other BFC-led support schemes.
New additions to the BFC Newgen program included Aletta, Ewusie, Liza Keane, Oscar OuYang, Octi, and The Ouze.
Conner Ives was the winner of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, while the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion winner will be chosen from Bleue Burnham, Clothsurgen, Harri, Labrum London, and Saul Nash.
Recipients of the BFC Fashion Trust included Clio Peppiatt, Edeline Lee, Harri, Nicholas Daley, and Tove.
The BFC Foundation, the charity arm of BFC, has handed out 1.2 million pounds in funds to designers and scholars in the financial year 2024/25. In addition, more than 270,000 pounds was distributed to designers via commercial collaborations secured by the BFC.
Best of WWD
Cannes Film Festival's French Actresses Whose Iconic Style Shines on the Red Carpet [PHOTOS]
Tailoring Black Style: Celebrating Iconic Black Male Figures in Fashion
Kate Middleton and Prince William's 14 Most Iconic Matching Moments: A Celebration of Style and Love
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Beyoncé Shatters Her Own Record With Six-Night 'Cowboy Carter' Run At Tottenham Stadium In London
Beyoncé's light isn't dimming any time soon. Moments after the "Cowboy Carter" singer wrapped up her spectacular six-night run at London's Tottenham Stadium, news broke that Beyoncé had set another record, a testament to her enduring and unmatched box office appeal. According to a press release from Live Nation, shared by Beyoncé's longtime publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, the 43-year-old outdid herself once again. After performing six sold-out shows in London for over 275,000 fans, Beyoncé broke her record for most concerts at the venue (previously set with five "RENAISSANCE" shows in 2023), while also setting new all-time stadium records for highest gross and most tickets sold by any artist. The set of electrifying performances, featuring flying cars and horseshoes, and special appearances from her two daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter, grossed over £45 million (USD 61.5 million) in ticket sales. Throughout the six-show run at Tottenham, Beyoncé graced the stage dressed in several high-fashion pieces, including custom looks from Stella McCartney, Burberry, and Off-White by Ibrahim Kamara. Beyoncé first shared the news that she was venturing into the country music genre during the 2024 Super Bowl, dropping singles "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold' Em," which eventually went on to become a No. 1 track on multiple charts, including Billboard's Hot 100. At the Grammys in February 2025, the mother of three extended her record as the most-awarded performer in the academy's history (35) after winning trophies for Best Country Album, Best Country Duo/Group Performance, and Album of the Year. The genre-bending project features guest vocals from singers such as Miley Cyrus, Shaboozey, Post Malone, and Dolly Parton. Additionally, it has moving covers of the songs "Blackbird" by The Beatles and "Jolene" by Parton. In a previous interview, Parton, 79, opened up about how "honored" she felt that the Destiny's Child alum recorded her song with a different spin. "I was just honored that she, of course, did a completely different take on 'Jolene' than my version of it," Parton said, per a previous report from The Blast. "Hers was more like, 'Well, you're not getting him, you're not taking him, you're going to go through me to get him.' Mine was more like, 'Please don't take him!' So I loved her interpretation." However, some other country artists, specifically Luke Bryan, didn't share Parton's sentiment about Beyoncé's music. While speaking with Andy Cohen about the CMAs excluding Beyoncé from the ballot during the 2024 awards, the "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" singer called the situation "tricky" before explaining what he believed might have happened. "I'm all for everybody coming in and making country albums and all that. But just by declaring that, just because she made one. I don't need [a nomination], just 'cause I make one," he said. "Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album," Bryan continued. "Nobody's mad about it. But where things get a little tricky and, and you know — if you're gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit." He continued, "Beyoncé can do it exactly what she wants to. She's probably the biggest star in music." "But come to an award show and high-five us, and have fun and get in the family too," Bryan added. The Grammys, meanwhile, officially announced in June 2025 that it will be splitting the "Best Country Album" category into two for the 2026 award show: one focusing on "traditional" country and the other honoring "contemporary" country. "[Country singers] said, we think we need more space for our music to be celebrated and honored," the Recording Academy's CEO, Harvey Mason Jr, explained, adding that the proposal had been submitted several times in the past before being passed this year. "It makes country parallel with what's happening in other genres," he said, "But it is also creating space for where this genre is going." As Mason continued, he explained that splitting the country album category into two gives more singers the chance to be recognized appropriately. "The issues have been, traditionally, a lot of people that weren't sure whether [an album] was Americana or roots or folk or country were just jamming everything into one category," he said. "There are obviously nuances between the different genres. Those experts in those genres understand those nuances, and I'm quite certain now you're going to see the right people going into Americana versus folk versus traditional country. [The change] gives us an opportunity to put things in more specific categories."
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
Why Was Men's London Fashion Week Canceled This June 2025?
Alexander McQueen fashion show during London Menswear Fashion Week 2016 Currently the UK womenswear market at US$48.74bn is almost double menswear at US$26.54bn. However, percentage growth is similar to womenswear – projected to grow annually by 3.50% vs 3.30% for menswear. And according to Drapers, the industry bible, things look quite rosy for menswear with the market 'forecasting stronger growth in 2025, fuelled by demand for value-for-money, high-quality casuals with a seasonless feel.' So, with a relatively buoyant market for menswear, why did the British Fashion Council (BFC) cancel its London Men's Fashion Week that has taken place every year since 2012? Russell Tovey, Sarah Solemani and Eddie Redmayne attend as Christopher Bailey and Eddie Redmayne host a cocktail party to celebrate Burberry as part of the first London Collections: Men on June 17, 2012. The first edition of London Collections: Men was a big deal with every major menswear brand involved, a reception was hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales to celebrate the launch and Paul Smith hosted an event at BAFTA. The 2012 event included iconic British brands like Burberry, Dunhill, Hackett, and Alexander McQueen plus heritage brands and tailors from London's legendary Savile Row. Over the years that followed, newer menswear brands like JW Anderson, Sagaboi, Saul Nash and Denzil Patrick raised their profiles at mens fashion week, contributing to the growth of the UK menswear industry. Idris Elba modelling a suit from Savile Row tailor Ozwald Boateng, London Fashion Week, February 2022 However, maintaining a separate week for men's fashion is an expensive proposition and recognising the trend towards co-ed collections, the British Fashion Council has decided to focus on providing more commercial opportunities for menswear through a London Show Rooms showcase in Paris. With a focus on menswear, the showrooms will run from 26 June to 1 July 2025. And of course there will be menswear shows during the regular London Fashion Weeks every February and September. University of Westminster BA fashion graduation show, London, June 2025 The reaction from the London Fashion industry to the cancellation of London Men's Fashion Week this June has been mixed. Of course not all brands are being taken to Paris. And, as Ash Smith, Founder of Lobby PR suggests 'there's a real place to make a short summer schedule in London strategically useful for brands, being able to showcase mens (and increasingly women's pre) collections in a city with international media reach, before attention turns to Italy and Paris.' Coventry University shows at Graduate Fashion Week, London, June 2025 Paris showrooms aside, the future of menswear design in London and throughout the UK still seems bright judging from the prevalence of menswear in the fashion graduation shows last week who filled the LFW Mens gap. In fact, Nicola Hitchens, Graduate Fashion Foundation Director says that "this is the first time that Graduate Fashion Week has run a dedicated menswear show GFW | Mens to celebrate British menswear. We were sad to hear that the BFC decided to not go ahead with menswear this season as it's a fantastic opportunity to showcase talent from a less represented market in fashion.' Ms. Hitchens sees the importance of 'providing a platform for support emerging menswear designers whilst the fashion industry is going through a transitional period and we want to spotlight young talent as they enter the industry.' University of Bournemouth Presented by the Graduate Fashion Foundation, Graduate Fashion Week, June 2025 Presented by the Graduate Fashion Foundation, Graduate Fashion Week represents the future of creative design talent and showcases the work of over 3500 fashion graduates each year, this year featuring catwalks from 12 British universities. The showcase is positioned as an excellent opportunity to scout top talent. University of Westminster BA Fashion Design Grad Show, London June 2025 Elsewhere, individual London universities held their graduation shows and the amount of creativity on show was impressive. University of Westminster BA Fashion showed multiple looks from 30 young designers, many of which were menswear. Azeika Nelson's menswear featuring pieced-together patchwork was inspired by the fragmented narrative of the 1968 film Je t'Aime, Je t'Aime directed by Alain Resnais. Lily Rose Murphy draws on British naval discipline and tradition, reimagining classic maritime uniform elements through a bold, modern lens. Westminster also offers an MA Menswear so the university is clearly confident that London provides a great environment for fashion design. Ravensbourne grad show, London June 2025 At the Ravensbourne catwalk, 10 out of 36 designers showed menswear, including a clever collaboration with British heritage brand Harris Tweed. Nottingham Trent University, Presented by the Graduate Fashion Foundation, Graduate Fashion Week, June 2025 The United Kingdom's men's apparel market (like women's apparel) is experiencing a surge in demand for sustainable and eco-friendly clothing options in luxury and mainstream markets alike. Remade, reduced, recycled have been the pillars of Christopher Raeburn's eponymous brand since launching in 2009. He's been a pioneer of reworking surplus fabrics, transforming de-commissioned military stock like nylon parachutes into jackets. Likewise, Denzil Patrick, launched in 2022, sources from weavers, printers and embroiderers who use sustainably sourced materials: rws wool, gots cotton and recycled fibre. The brand also uses surplus materials to create artisanal pieces and their direct-to-consumer operation means that all garments are produced in small batches to avoid over production. Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts, Presented by the Graduate Fashion Foundation, Graduate Fashion Week, June 2025 London will always be a buzzy global fashion hub with its unique blend of heritage and innovation. New technology like 3D body scanning and AI-driven design tools to offer bespoke garments is being embraced by Savile Row. And the city's menswear scene is one of the most inclusive, if not the most inclusive in the world, embracing gender-fluid designs and celebrating cultural diversity.
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
British royal family commemorate victims of Air India plane crash at Trooping the Colour
King Charles III and other members of the royal family in uniform wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence during his annual birthday parade on Saturday to commemorate those who died in this week's Air India plane crash. King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive for the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, on June 14, 2025. Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images The king requested the symbolic moves "as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy," Buckingham Palace said. (left to right) The Prince of Wales, Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, on June 14, 2025. Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images An Air India flight from the northwestern city of Ahmedabad to London crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. The plane was carrying 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. One man survived. The monarch's annual birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, is a historic ceremony filled with pageantry and military bands in which the king reviews his troops on Horse Guards Parade adjacent to St. James' Park in central London. The military ceremony dates back to a time when flags of the battalion, known as colours, were "trooped,'' or shown, to soldiers in the ranks so they could recognize them. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. Since 1748, the Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign. BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, held a similar moment of silence in 2017 when Trooping the Colour took place three days after a fire ripped through the Grenfell Tower apartment block in west London, killing 72 people. David Beckham, Gary Oldman, others honored by Charles Former England soccer star David Beckham, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and renowned musicals singer Elaine Paige were among the celebrities and public figures who were honored by King Charles III ahead of the Trooping of Colour festivities. Beckham, Goldman and the Who's frontman, Roger Daltrey, were knighted by the king, while Paige, Brooker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker and former Conservative government minister Penny Mordaunt were given damehoods, the female equivalent of a knighthood. The honors, which aim to reward individuals for their contributions to British life, are awarded twice a year to celebrities and public figures as well as ordinary people: Once at New Year's, and then in June to mark the king's birthday. The winners are chosen by civil servants' committees based on nominations from the government and the public. The awards are usually given out by the king or a senior royal acting in his place at Buckingham Palace. King Charles III shakes hands with David Beckham and Meryl Streep, as they attend the King's Foundation Awards ceremony, on the 35th anniversary of The King's Foundation, at St James's Palace on June 12, 2025 in London, England. Chris J. Ratcliffe -"Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honor," said Beckham, who was knighted for his services to sport and to charity for his partnerships with UNICEF and the U.N.'s children's fund. Daltrey, recognized for services to charity as well as music, has been a patron of "Teenage Cancer Trust" since 2000. He said he was humbled by the award. "It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much," he said. Paige said she is proud, grateful, thrilled and surprised by the honor. "I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once," she said.
