WINNERS
SCOTLAND HAS NEVER BEEN SO FASHIONABLE AS THE GREAT AND GOOD OF GLOBAL FASHION GATHER AT SCOTLAND’S PREMIER CELEBRATION OF FASHION & STYLE - THE SCOTTISH FASHION AWARDS 2008
STIRLING, SCOTLAND, UK - 29/06/08 The fashion world gathered on the tartan red carpet at Stirling Castle, Scotland last night 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. Fleets of Mercedes-Benz and the world’s most exclusive luxury saloon’s, the Maybach limousines chauffeured guests to the City of Stirling.
‘Catwalk Caledonia’ honoured the incredible Scottish design talent in a series of fashion interludes featuring collections from an array of Scottish design talent including Kane, Black, Saunders, Aimee McWilliams, Pringle of Scotland, Johnston’s of Elgin, Mackintosh Rainwear, Graeme Armour, Louise Gray and Jamie Bruski Tetsill to name but a few.
The awards proved that the nation has entered a new era where the word’s ‘Fashion and ‘Scotland’ can be quoted in the same line suggesting a series essence of cool. Scotland is having more than a ‘fashion moment’ given the selection of global fashion editors and figures that were in attendance.
The winners were selected by an exclusive judging panel made up of professionals from the worlds leading fashion houses, the most renowned and respected fashion publications and leading figures in style. The panel included:
- DOLLY JONES - EDITOR OF VOGUE.COM
- KATE PHELAN - FASHION DIRECTOR BRITISH VOGUE
- THE HON. DAPHNE GUINNESS
- BRIAN RENNIE -DESIGN DIRECTOR OF GANT
- BRIGITTE STEPPUTTIS - HEAD OF COUTURE VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
- HILARY ALEXANDER - FASHION DIRECTOR THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
- GARY VAN DIS - VICE PRESIDENT CORPORATE CREATIVE CONDE NAST USA
- JEN UNER FOUNDER/CO-PRODUCER LOS ANGELES FASHION AWARDS
- JANETTE HARKESS - DEPUTY EDITOR THE HERALD
- ERIC N SMITH - AWARD WINNING SCOTTISH DIAMOND AND JEWELLERY DESIGNER
The winners from across ten categories who were honoured in person were:
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). The event introduced this new category for 2008, given the amount of international designers that hurled themselves into a ‘Highland Fling’ with their prominent use of ‘tartan’ within their collections. Other nominees included D&G Dolce e Gabbana and Ralph Lauren. 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. McKnight whose career spans three decades has been at the forefront of session styling, collaborating on hundreds of Vogue stories and covers. Having worked with most of the world’s leading photographers including Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier, Irving Penn and Nick Knight, Sam helped create ground breaking images setting the foundations for a new wave of hairstyling. He has been behind some of the most recognizable images in recent history including Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchette, Tilda Swinton, Madonna, Sienna Miller and Uma Thurman.
Scotland’s New Face 2008 - Working in partnership with highstreet fashion retailer Warehouse, the event launched a model competition to search for Scotland’s New Face. From literally hundreds of on line entries and a short list process during the month of June in The Daily Record, 4 finalists took to the stage in a Warehouse catwalk show. Leanne Jeffrey, age 15 years, 5’ 11’, from Cumbernauld, Glasgow was crowned ‘Scotland’s New Face 2008.
Dolly Jones Editor of Vogue.com said: "It was such a thrill to be involved in this event and a real honour to be there to see Christopher Kane pick up yet another well deserved accolade. Having said that, the designer of the year category was really difficult to judge - at Vogue.com we've watched carefully as each of the nominees' stars have risen and I wanted to vote for them all. The calibre of the group as a whole was very impressive and the event itself is bound to be even more respected as a result of the talent it continues to highlight."
Tessa Hartmann, Founder and Producer of the event said: “The Scottish Fashion Awards can lay claim to having a hand in this new fashion revolution for all things Scottish by providing this platform. There is a wealth of creativity and design in the award nominees and winners and we are delighted to honour and celebrate their achievements with this prestigious occasion.”
VIP guests at the event were treated to an exclusive video of McKnight’s work along with special messages broadcast into the castle, from super model Agyness Deyn and Hollywood actress Uma Thurman.
The awards ceremony was hosted by the glamorous fashion television presenter Louise Roe, formerly of Vogue.TV and now resident fashion correspondent on GMTV.
VIP’s attended a Gala Dinner prepared by ‘Nick Nairn at Stirling Castle’ where Haggis, Salmon and Laurent Perrier Champagne were served, complete with bespoke Scottish Fashion Awards cup cakes! A charity auction was hosted by Gary Van Dis of Conde Nast USA, in aid of the Princes Trust. There was a bidding frenzy when designer Graeme Black auctioned a signed fashion illustration which would be turned into a bespoke dress for the bidder. Guests then headed to the Chapel Royal of the seven hundred year old castle, which was transformed into a night club, complete with ‘highland cattle’ print throws and rugs! Campari alluring red spirit, Sputnik Vodka cocktails and the most popular accessory of the night - Strathmore Water were the order of the night, with guests dancing well into the early hours.
Scottish Fashion Awards in association with Vogue.com tote bags were filled with an exclusive selection of goodies including products from Toni&Guy, Warehouse, Mercedes-Benz, Arran Aromatics, Longcroft Soaps and of course Tunnocks Caramel Wafers - Scotland’s biggest selling chocolate biscuit!
In line with high profile fashion events the luxury 5 star Hotel Du Vin properties and the castle were a hive of preparations throughout the day as suites and dungeons were converted into official ‘Green Rooms’ for celebrities and VIP’s by top creative talents from Toni&Guy. Eric N Smith, Official Jeweller of the event, came laden with diamonds and jewels that dressed numerous plunging necklines of celebrities attending the black tie gala occasion.
Ejay McEwan, co-producer of the event added: “The event is growing in stature and global recognition each year and we have been overwhelmed by the interest from international fashion bibles and broadcasters. If ever there is an interest in Scotland, it seems that the tartan red carpet is proving a serious draw!”
Dolly Jones concluded: “Once again the Scottish Fashion Awards has proved itself to be a serious contender on the fashion events calendar. There is a determination in the ambition of its organisers that is as inspiring as the talent we see highlighted on the night. It's definitely one to watch."
ENDS JUNE 2008
- IMAGES CAN BE WIRED FROM THE EVENT ON SUNDAY EVENING, PLEASE MAKE REQUESTS IN ADVANCE TO THE TFF AGENCY, PROVIDING ALL EMAIL AND CONTACT DETAILS FOR IMAGERY.
- BROADCAST FOOTAGE ALSO AVAILABLE, AGAIN, PLEASE REQUEST IN ADVANCE.
- EDITORS NOTES: - FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE TFF AGENCY
DIRECTOR OF PRESS - EJAY MCEWAN OR FOUNDER/PRODUCER - TESSA HARTMANN:
THE TFF AGENCY - T. + 44 (0) 1236 826555 F. 44 (0) 1236 825560
EJAY MCEWAN 07951 829 090
TESSA HARTMANN 07785 28 52 42
ejay@thetffagency.com or tessa@thetffagency.com - www.scottishfashionawards.com
JUDGING PANEL
- BIOGRAPHIES AVAILABLE FOR PRINT ON LINE.
- HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHY ON SAM MCKNIGHT AVAILABLE FOR PRINT. PLEASE SEND A REQUEST.
- SPONSOR INFORMATION - HEADLINE SPONSOR - VOGUE.COM
- FOR ALL OTHER SPONSORS SEE www.scottishfashionawards.com for full details.