Rising fashion stars nominated for upcoming Walpole Awards

Relaxnews – Wed, Nov 2, 2011

• A model poses at the Victoria Beckham Spring 2012 presentation

Nominees for the annual Walpole Awards for Excellence have been revealed, with relative newcomers such as singer-turned designer Victoria Beckham in the running, along with established names including Lanvin and Tom Ford.

Organized by British luxury organization Walpole in association with Coutts, the awards are now in their tenth year, with an aim to honor brands exemplifying excellence in design and craftsmanship both in Britain and internationally.

Victoria Beckham, whose eponymous dress collection debuted at New York Fashion Week in 2008, will compete with promising fashionistas of the future in the Emerging British Luxury Brand category. Accessories brand Charlotte Olympia, luxury jewelers Annoushka, parfumer Ormonde Jayne and British-Asian creator Osman Yousefzada are also in the running for this gong.

In the International Luxury Brand category nominees include Hermes, Tom Ford and Lanvin, as well as Ermenegildo Zegna and St Regis Hotels.

This year’s ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Banqueting House in London’s Whitehall.

Winners at last year's Walpole Awards for Excellence included Burberry, which scooped British Luxury Brand, while Swiss watch brand Hublot was named International Luxury Brand.

British-Canadian creator Erdem took the Emerging British Luxury Brand prize, going on to have success in 2011 partly thanks to ardent fan Catherine Middleton; the Duchess famously chose a navy blue dress by the designer when she landed in Ottawa during her and husband Prince William’s first official trip to Canada earlier this year.

In fact, so mighty has his ascent been that Erdem is nominated in the Designer of the Year category at the upcoming British Fashion Awards 2011, which follow hot on the heels of the Walpole Awards on November 28 and are considered the UK’s leading fashion ceremony.

Taking place at the London Fashion Week Headquarters and hosted by the British Fashion Council, the awards also mark another opportunity for certain Walpole Awards nominees to claim a prize. Charlotte Olympia has been nominated in the Accessory Designer category, while Victoria Beckham and Burberry will compete in the Designer Brand category along with Stella McCartney and Tom Ford.

For the full list of Walpole Awards nominees visit http://www.thewalpole.co.uk/walpole-events/walpole-awards/view-event.aspx?nodeId=6708.

Meanwhile, nominees for the British Fashion Awards can be seen here: http://www.britishfashionawards.com/news_detail.aspx?id=344