Dr Tessa Hartmann, founder of the Scottish Fashion Awards, British GQ publisher Vanessa Kingori and stylist and fashion director of W magazine Edward Enninful are among the members of the fashion industry to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced today.
Hartmann was awarded a CBE in recognition for her services to the Scottish fashion and textiles industry. The Scottish Fashion Awards have done much to put Scottish fashion designers and textiles businesses on the map and Hartmann is also a committed mentor for young talent.
“As a woman in business I feel very proud to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on this most special year. It’s very gratifying that the work we have done to showcase the Scottish fashion industry around the world has been recognised and acknowledged in this way,” said Hartmann of the honour. “I have spent many years showcasing and raising awareness to the wealth of Scottish fashion, design, creative and textiles talents and never expected to receive anything like this, so it’s very exciting. I couldn’t be more delighted.”
Vanessa Kingori who is the first female publisher of GQ and the first black publisher at its parent company Condé Nast, was awarded the MBE for services to the media industry. Kingori told The Voice that the award was a “an especially big accolade for my mother who brought my sister and I up as a single parent working all the hours she could as an NHS nurse.”
Acclaimed stylist Edward Enninful is one of fashion’s most respected creative forces. He has been recognised with an OBE for services to diversity in the fashion industry. Enninful began his fashion career in modelling before becoming the youngest ever fashion director at i-D at the age of just 18. He went on take up positions at Italian and American Vogue before joining W in 2009. He is also a consultant for some of the world’s leading fashion brands.
Elsewhere Guy Salter, the deputy chairman of Walpole, which represents the British luxury industry (including many fashion brands) was awarded an OBE for services to the economy and Robert Ryan of the Isle of Mull received an MBE for services to weaving and the economy of the Isle of Mull. Ryan has worked tirelessly to ensure the skills of weaving are passed on and continue and has helped build a viable weaving operation on the Isle of Mull.
Young entrepreneur Aaron Jones, founder of Fikay Fashion, received the British Empire Medal in recognition of his contribution to ethical fashion. Fikay empowers parents in third world countries by providing them with the fashion manufacturing technology to support their families. It donates part of every sale to the Fikay Foundation, which promotes education and schools abroad. Fikay also helps UK designers “create and market pieces of stylish and ethical innovation” by using its knowledge of sampling its and database of suppliers.
