On November 10, the British Fashion Council (BFC) announced that Rei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe, and Dickon Bowden will receive the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator at The Fashion Awards 2025 (TFA), taking place on December 1, 2025, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Organized by the BFC, TFA serves as a key fundraiser for the BFC Foundation and is widely recognized as a global stage celebrating fashion’s cultural influence, creativity, and transformative power.
In its statement, the BFC praised the trio “for their incredible contribution to the global fashion industry through the establishment of Dover Street Market,” describing DSM as “an innovative platform for immersive brand storytelling and artistic exploration, bringing together emerging designers, established brands and cross-disciplinary collaborations.”
A Cultural Space Beyond Fashion, Art, and Commerce
Founded in 2004 on London’s Dover Street, Dover Street Market (DSM) has evolved far beyond the boundaries of a traditional retail store. It has become a cultural space that merges fashion, art, and commerce into one experimental ecosystem. Even after relocating to Haymarket near Piccadilly Circus, its pioneering spirit has remained unchanged, expanding globally to cities including Tokyo, New York, Singapore, Beijing, Los Angeles, and Paris.
According to the BFC, “Through experimental installations and unconventional displays, it has created a living, breathing cultural space that dissolves the boundaries between fashion, art and commerce. DSM has fostered a collaborative community in the fashion industry and continues to shape the global conversation.”
Revolutionary Design and Visionary Leadership
The BFC also recognized Rei Kawakubo, founder and creative director of Comme des Garçons, noting that “she has greatly influenced the contemporary fashion industry with her revolutionary designs and shaped the conceptual foundation of DSM.”
Adrian Joffe, CEO and co-founder of DSM as well as president of Comme des Garçons International, was credited for his role as “an instrumental figure in the brand curation and evolution of DSM’s concept over time.”
Meanwhile, Dickon Bowden, vice president of DSM, was highlighted as “a guiding force in the company’s international expansion.”
Laura Weir, Chief Executive of the BFC, commented on the award: “Rei, Adrian and Dickon’s steadfast commitment to innovation, support for emerging talent and dedication to building an authentic creative community continue to influence the industry and challenge wider fashion discourse.”
The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator honors innovators who bring designers’ visions to life and help shape the creative worlds within brands. Previous recipients include Tyler Mitchell, Edward Enninful, Ib Kamara, Katie Grand, Pat McGrath, and Nick Knight.
At the same ceremony, Italian designer and entrepreneur Brunello Cucinelli will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award, while Dior CEO Delphine Arnault will be presented with the Special Recognition Award for her exceptional contribution to the global fashion industry.
Supporting the Power of Fashion
The Fashion Awards 2025 is presented by Pandora, with official partners eBay and The Peninsula London. Proceeds from the event will benefit the BFC Foundation, which supports student scholarships and emerging designer programs that nurture the next generation of creative talent.
Copyright © 2025 Oui Speak Fashion. All rights reserved.