SCOTTISH FASHION AWARDS

The newly formed Scottish Fashion Council announced it's line up of impressive international fashion players at the third annual Scottish Fashion Awards. Their aims are straight forward: to promote and create awareness of Scottish Fashion Design worldwide and to help nurture and advise new fashion talent from Scotland. In time, they will initiate a programme of events, helping to inform, motivate, educate and inspire those in the business of fashion from Scotland. Most importantly, the council will provide a panel of fashion experts from around the world who will be on hand to advise the Scottish Government, local councils and tourist partners on the best way to promote Scottish fashion. The panel will have an official launch at London Fashion Week in September 2008 but revealed their founding members including Brian Rennie, Design Director Gant, Tessa Hartmann, Ejay McEwan, Graeme Black, Kirsty Hume, Albert Watson, Lorraine Pringle, Gillian McVey amongst others. Their new website - www.scottishfashioncouncil.com will launch in September 2008.

Performance Costumes Graduates from Edinburgh College of Art greeted guests on the tartan red carpet at the awards, to great acclaim. Having seen the graduate show at the College in May, Tessa Hartmann and Ejay McEwan felt such skill must be given a platform at Scotland's biggest celebrtion of fashion and style.
Tessa said: "The skill in this demanding and yet sometimes unrewarding discipline is phenomenal. Their ability to draw upon the expertise of related disciplines such as textiles, jewellery and embroidery, emphasising their vast knowledge of these areas, is overwhelming. It enriches their collections and should be acknowledged. The guests where enthralled by their presence on the red carpet and it's definitely an area we will look to expand for 2009".

(Picture: The Performance Costume graduates at Stirling Castle presenting their costumes designed for a variety of opera, theatre, film and dance themes).

The Scottish Fashion Awards were delighted to welcome Mercedes-Benz West of Scotland to the glittering event in 2008. Fleets of Mercedes-Benz and the world’s most exclusive luxury saloon’s, the Maybach limousines, chauffeured guests to Stirling Castle. The Maybach's certainly caused a stir upon their arrival at the castle as only a handful of guests had ever seen the magnificent feat of engineering in person. 'This is without a doubt the right way to arrive at Scotland's most glamorous night of the year. Being driven in a supermodel and indeed walking the tartan red carpet with another supermodel,' said one delighted VIP! Yes, quite!

(Picture: The Scottish Model of the Year 2008 finalists check out the arrival of the Maybachs that were brought up to Scotland especially for the awards).

The fashion world gathered on the tartan red carpet at Stirling Castle, Scotland on Sunday 29th June as winners and special honours for the third annual Scottish Fashion Awards in association with Vogue.com, was announced at a glittering awards ceremony and Gala dinner. Attended by a host of celebrities including international fashion figures such as The Hon. Daphne Guinness, Henry Holland, Christopher Kane, Graeme Black, Brian Rennie, Sam McKnight, Lisa Butcher, Mark Heyes, actress Laura Fraser and Dolly Jones, it was the most sought after fashion invitation in the country. The 2008 Winners are:

Christopher Kane- Scottish Designer of the Year, sponsored by Vogue.com
Emily McWilliams - Scottish Model of the Year. Sponsored by Toni&Guy Haircare.
Graeme Armour - Scottish Young Designer of the Year. Sponsored by The Scottish Fashion Council
Johnston’s of Elgin – Scottish Textile Brand of the Year. Sponsored by Scottish Enterprise Textiles.
David Eustace - (Fashion photographer) Scottish Communicator of the Year. Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz
Darius Danesh -(Singer) Scottish Fashion Awards Fashion Icon. Sponsored by The Herald
Norton & Sons - Scottish Retailer of the Year. ¬ Sponsored by Stirling Council, host city.
Bebaroque Hoisery - Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year. Sponsored by award winning Diamond & Jewellery designer, Eric N Smith Jeweller.
House of Holland – Best Use of Tartan (by an international designer). Sponsored by John Semple Travel and Emirates Airlines.
Sam McKnight – inducted into the Scottish Fashion Awards Hall of Fame 2008. Sponsored by Hotel Du Vin Group. See 'winners' section for further details.
(Picture: The Hon. Daphne Guinness with Sam McKnight and Graeme Black).

Forget London, Paris or Milan, all fashion eyes will be on the tartan red carpet in Stirling on Sunday 29th June 2008 when the Scottish Fashion Awards will celebrate their top Scottish talent and crown the winners across the 10 categories.

One of the most hotly contested categories this year is The Scottish Model of the Year category, which has been extended to include a shortlist of 8 successful Scottish models. Kirsty Hume was crowned Scottish Model of the Year 2006, Brigid McGaw took the crown in 2007 and now the race is on to find Scotland's Model of the Year 2008! From the catwalks of London, Paris, Rome and New York, these Scottish faces are making a name for themselves on the international fashion circuit and all boast impressive international portfolios. Emily McWilliam based in Sweden has appeared on the cover of Portuguese Vogue along with being the face of Garnier. Amanda Henrick has appeared on the international catwalks around Europe with her inimitable catwalk swagger, Gillian Cook has been phenomenally successful in Japan, Haley Bartlett is in great demand in Los Angeles, Amy McLelland is one of Scotland's busiest models and appears regularly in the nations broadsheets. Tottie is a photographers favorite with her asymmetrical haircut and individual style, each deserving a place on this now sought after and industry recognized list.
Each of the models will have the opportunity to appear at the event in Catwalk Caledonia, a series of fashion interludes from top Scottish Designers in front of the most impressive fashion audience.
Official photographer for Scottish Fashion Awards and one of fashion's most sought after snappers Stephen Kearney (www.stephenkearney.co.uk) said: 'I have worked with most of these girls and I have to say they each have a very individual and unique look. It's great that the Scottish Fashion Awards is giving them a platform in Catwalk Caledonia as most people probably have no idea they are Scottish, they are just faces but in actual fact they are Scottish faces who are really making strides on the international modeling circuit. There are few stand outs within the list who are working in Milan and Paris, so I think the judges will have a challenging task on their hands'.