Bethany Williams wins latest Queen Elizabeth II Award

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Feb 13, 2019

Bethany Williams, the fashion-forward London talent known for making sustainability look hip, has won the latest Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.

 
One year ago, Queen Elizabeth showed up in person to present the debut award to Richard Quinn, witnessing her first runway show from the front row. Next week, the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Charles' wife, will present the 2019 award to Williams on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen to the designer at her show on Tuesday, February 19, the final afternoon of the five-day London Fashion Week.
 
The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was initiated in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays in society and diplomacy and the movement of young designers that are both talented and making a difference to society through either sustainable practices or community engagement, the British Fashion Council said in a release.

“The UK is known for its world-class creative emerging talent, and many of the new generation of talent are embedding sustainable or social impact within their businesses from the start. Bethany is an incredible example of this generation of designer and we are delighted to work with the Duchess of Cornwall this year on behalf of Her Majesty to highlight her work through this Award as another very special moment at London Fashion Week,” said BFC CEO Caroline Rush, CBE.
 
Williams was noted for sourcing several looks last year from book waste culled from publisher Hachette and then getting a group of women, in an Italian drug rehabilitation clinic in San Patrignano, to weave the waste into fabric by hand. The designer also has an ongoing relationship with TIH models, an agency that supports youth in London who have been affected by homelessness; casting them in campaigns and fashion shows.
 
The award itself was designed by Angela Kelly, the noted personal assistant, advisor and curator to the Queen. It is inspired by the Queen Elizabeth rose, and was hand-produced by Lucy Price at Bauhinia Design Studio, in Birmingham's famous jewelry quarter.