British-Guyanese designer Saul Nash is truly taking the fashion world by storm!
The London designer (who is also a professional choreographer and movement director) has won the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Award For British Design — just one week after picking up the International Woolmark Prize (for which he received a sum of £114,500).
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, presented Nash with the award on behalf of the Queen at London’s Design Museum during a live ceremony that highlighted all of the BFC (British Fashion Council) Foundation’s talent support initiatives.
First launched in 2018, the award recognises designers for their talent and originality. Typically, the recipient is someone who contributes positively to society with sustainable practices and community engagement.
The Central Saint Martins graduate’s collections merge the worlds of sportswear and luxury menswear while using sustainably-sourced materials (like dead-stock, certified cotton and merino wool)— as demonstrated in his A/W 2022 collection ‘Ritual’ (check out the accompanying short film here). His designs are distinctly influenced by his Caribbean heritage, Northeast London upbringing and passion for dance.
“It’s important to weave my own story into my work, keeping it personal and true to myself… That remains the ambition — to stay focused on innovation, community and building a conscious practice.”
Caroline Rush, chief executive of the BFC, said of the 29-year-old:
“We are delighted to announce Saul Nash as the fifth recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. Nash has a unique way of combining function, tech and tailoring in his design practice which has resulted in a new take on luxe sportswear. His work explores the relationship between performance and menswear and is often showcased through beautiful and show-stopping choreography. We are incredibly proud to recognise Saul and look forward to seeing his brand grow.”
Nash himself had this to say following the good news:
“This week has felt like a dream. To be recognised in this way is an incredible vote of confidence — it would be for any designer, but I feel especially proud as this is a moment of validation for sportswear. The focus of my work has always been to push and open up new possibilities, from tackling preconceived notions of sportswear to attempting to challenge perceptions of gender norms in menswear.”
Make sure to check out more of Nash’s work on his Instagram — we’re expecting many more big moves to come!
