Hannah Karpel
Live reporter

Many of the brightest talents in fashion have got Fashion East to thank for nurturing their careers.

The non-profit talent incubator, which has been supporting emerging designers through their first three fashion seasons for the past 25 years, just won a Special Recognition Award.

Founder Lulu Kennedy MBE and head of projects Raphaelle Moore accept the award from British rapper Skepta. “You’d think 25 years is a long time but we’re just having so much fun with it," says Kennedy to a cheering crowd.

Irish-born fashion designer Jonathan Anderson - who won Designer of the Year at last year's awards - began his career under the watchful eye of Fashion East.

Freya Scott-Turner
Reporting from the awards

Image source, Getty Images

Businesswoman Delphine Arnault accepts an award for her "outstanding contribution" to fashion, and her "championing" of emerging talent.

The award's presented by Dame Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue magazine until June of this year, who walks out to rapturous applause.

Arnault, director of LVMH, a conglomerate specialising in luxury goods, says she is "speechless" and looks visibly emotional.

“Everything starts with creativity - our artistic directors know what we desire before we even know it ourselves," she goes on - before naming some of the "young voices" that inspire her. The list includes Simone Rocha and Grace Wales Bonner - who are both nominated tonight.

This is an award we knew the winner of ahead of time, as outlined in our earlier post.

Presented by Gwendoline Christie, Simone Rocha and Craig Green, it goes to Dover Street Market (DSM), the luxury retail store.

The masterminds behind DSM, Rei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe and Dickon Bowden, wear multiple hats. Kawakubo is creative director at Comme des Garçons and Joffe is president of Comme des Garçons International.

Bowden, accepting the award on behalf of the trio, says: "We give our deepest thanks to Laura and the British Fashion Council, an award made all the poignant as Isabella was a dear friend of DSM, often to be found perched on our little balcony enjoying a cigarette and a cup of tea”

• For context: The Isabella Blow award is named after the fashion editor and magazine legend, recognised for her role paving the way for young talent like fashion designer Alexander McQueen and hat designer Phillip Treacy

Image source, Getty Images

Freya Scott-Turner
Reporting from the awards

The awards have now kicked off.

The ball gets rolling with a video message from woman of the moment Celia Imrie - there this evening - who tells the crowd: “No I’ve not been murdered!”

It follows her much-loved stint on Celebrity Traitors.

Image source, Getty Images

While the awards get going inside the Royal Albert Hall, let's bring you the last of some of tonight's looks from outside...

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

The awards are now getting under way, so let's have a look at the categories which are up for grabs tonight.

• Designer of the Year
• British Womenswear Designer of the Year
• British Menswear Designer of the Year
• The Vanguard Award

And the British Fashion Council announced some of tonight's winners ahead of the ceremony:

• Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator - Rei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe and Dickon Bowden
• Model of the Year - Anok Yai
• Two Special Recognition Awards - Delphine Arnault and 15 Years of BFC Fashion Trust
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Brunello Cucinelli
• 25 Years of Fashion East - Lulu Kennedy and Raphaelle Moore
• Cultural Innovator Award - Little Simz
• Pandora Style Moment of the Year Award - Sam Woolf

Freya Scott-Turner
Reporting from the awards

After about 20 loudspeaker announcements, the organisers of tonight's awards have finally managed to hustle everybody inside from the blue carpet.

To be perfectly honest, it couldn’t have come at a better time, the rain is just starting to get heavy.

There are leaves dotted all along the blue carpet, although one diligent usher was spotted picking them up by hand.

I’m now dashing to the media section of the awards inside the Royal Albert Hall, so I can bring you all the winners.

This section of the evening isn't televised, so bear with me as I bring you the latest.

Fresh from releasing her new album West End Girl, Lily Allen arrives just three miles away from London’s West End wearing a gorgeous silk gold dress with lace layers.

She grasps a sparkling gold clutch to match.

Image source, Getty

Image source, Getty Images

Hannah Karpel
Live reporter

Tonight is all about raising funds for the British Fashion Foundation (BFC) to support talent through scholarships and initiatives in the UK.

One designer who's received support from the foundation is St Albans-born Yaku Stapleton, who describes his work as "transforming conceptual fantasy into wearable reality", featuring heat-textured tech wear made from upcycled nylon jackets and puffers filled with recycled bedding.

“It has been quite life-changing, to be honest," he says of the BFC's support. "I’m sure my life would be very different if I didn’t get that opportunity.”

The foundation covered his master’s degree, and after graduating he was selected as part of NewGen - helping him to show at Fashion Week, cover production costs, and benefit from mentorship and guidance.

“Getting the scholarship made a huge difference in my self-belief,” he says.“It gives people the opportunity to dream big and have hope.”

Image source, Agathe Moubembe/ Yaku Stapleton

Freya Scott-Turner
Reporting from the blue carpet

I’ve just been speaking to Rocco Iannone, the creative director of Ferrari.

He’s dressed numerous stars tonight, including Raye, who's performing at the awards a little later.

He tells me he loves British fashion because of the forward-thinking mentality in the UK, because "art is always about... new talents, new artists, new people".

I've brought along a bag with me tonight, filled my mystery questions, and I ask Rocco to pick one out.

On what trend he wants to bring back for the year 2026, he says: "You know, I’m an 80s lover. I still love the big jackets, the tight waists."

Hannah Karpel
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Among attendees tonight are 50 New Wave creatives - each handpicked by the British Fashion Council for being the “most innovative and inspiring" young talents in fashion.

The list covers a range of disciplines, from casting directors and photographers to make-up artists and set designers. But this year sees the arrival of a new category - the fashion commentator.

Odunayo Ojo, the London-based fashion journalist behind @fashionroadman, has been dissecting and debating the industry on camera since 2014.

“I was one of the early people talking about fashion in video format," he says. "When I started, it wasn’t seen as real journalism to talk about fashion online, so this really shows where fashion media is right now.”

Freya Scott-Turner
Reporting from the blue carpet

“I’m cold!” says hairdresser to the stars Chris Appleton.

I don’t blame him - he’s shirtless underneath a Tom Ford jacket, and he's been speaking to the press for quite a while.

"I think even if you dress more on the classic side, you can still have fun," says Appleton, perhaps best known as Kim Kardashian's hairdresser.

“I want her to go blonde,” he says of Kardashian, when asked what 2026 has in store for her. “I think it would bring out another side to her.”

Image source, Getty Images

Here are some of our favourite looks from the blue carpet.

Which do you like best?

Let us know at the top of the page.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Hannah Karpel
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Foday Dumbuya, the designer behind Arsenal's away kit, is nominated tonight for British Menswear Designer of the Year.

When we speak, he tells me he built Labrum London on a celebration of the West African diaspora and British tailoring.

"I still feel like that kid who arrived in the UK trying to make sense of two worlds,” he says. “To now be nominated alongside designers I respect is a reminder that staying true to your story, your craft and your purpose really does matter.

"Honestly, it feels surreal and deeply humbling."

His new collaboration with British retailer John Lewis is a collection designed to champion diversity in British fashion through prints and cultural codes.

"If my work can make someone stand a little taller, feel a little braver, or see their background as something to celebrate, then I’ve done my job."