McQueen Honored (Again) by British Fashion Council

The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced that Lee Alexander McQueen will receive a posthumous award at this year's British Fashion Awards on Tuesday 7th December for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design. This special award celebrates the achievement of a designer whose work has had an exceptional impact on global fashion.

Four time winner of British Designer of the Year award, Lee Alexander McQueen received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design in recognition for his extraordinary career. Revered globally for his fabulous tailoring, exciting, innovative and outrageous style on and off the runway, McQueen will be remembered as the most innovative and influential fashion designer of his generation.

To commemorate Lee's life and celebrate this award the ceremony will open with a film featuring Lee's most iconic pieces directed by Nick Knight, styled by Edward Enninful and soundtrack by Bjork. The film will feature iconic pieces from Lee's career from the Alexander McQueen archive.

Speaking about his inspiration for the film Nick Knight, commented, "This film is my way of speaking about a very unique and important person who changed my life. My desire was to speak in some way about the dark and the light contained within Lee, and within us all."

Born in London in 1969 Lee began his fashion career with an apprenticeship at the traditional Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shephard and then at neighboring Gieves and Hawkes. A few years later he completed a Masters degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins. He showed his MA collection in 1992, which was famously bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow.

Alexander McQueen shows quickly became known for their emotional power and raw energy, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections.

Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity, fluidity and severity. In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001.

In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remained Creative Director until his death in February 2010. He is succeeded at his eponymous brand by his protege Sarah Burton with whom he had worked for 14 years.

Jonathan Akeroyd, Chief Executive of Alexander McQueen, commented, "We are honored to accept the BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Award and that the British Fashion Council have recognised Lee's work and contribution to the British Fashion Industry."

Harold Tillman, CBE, Chairman of the BFC, commented, "The Outstanding Achievement Award celebrates the exceptional talent of an individual who has contributed to the British fashion industry both internationally, and here in the UK throughout their career. There was only one person we felt we could recognize with this award this year - Lee McQueen."