British fashion designers with UK honours
To celebrate London Fashion Week, we look at British fashion designers who have received a knighthood, damehood, CBE, OBE or MBE UK honour.
Fashion designers who have received a knighthood or damehood
Since the mid-1900s, fashion designers have been given recognition for their contribution to the world of fashion through the Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday and New Year honours.
Some of British fashion's most significant names, such as Sir Norman Hartnell (Gazette issue 47102) and Sir Hardy Amies (Gazette issue 51772), both Dressmakers to Queen Elizabeth II, were knighted during their lifetimes, while designers such as Dame Vivienne Westwood (Gazette issue 57855) were also recognised for their influence on fashion in the UK.
The latest fashion designer to receive either a knighthood or damehood was iconic 60s designer Dame Mary Quant. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2015 New Year honours (Gazette issue 61092) and to the Order of the Companions of Honour in the 2023 New Year Honours list (Gazette issue 63918) for her services to British fashion.
Living fashion designers with a knighthood or damehood
There are currently two notable living fashion designers who have received a knighthood or damehood for services to the fashion industry:
- Dame Zandra Rhodes* (Gazette issue 60895)
- Sir Paul Smith** (Gazette issue 55879)
*Dame Zandra Rhodes was also awarded a CBE in the Queen's 1997 Birthday honours (Gazette issue 54794)
**Sir Paul Smith also received a CBE from the Queen in the 1994 New Year honours (Gazette issue 53527)
Former fashion designers who received a knighthood or damehood
Here is a list of notable former fashion designers who received a knighthood or damehood for services to the fashion industry:
- Sir Hardy Amies (Gazette issue 51772)
- Sir Norman Hartnell (Gazette issue 47102)
- Dame Mary Quant (Gazette issue 61092)
- Dame Vivienne Westwood (Gazette issue 57855)
Living fashion designers who have received British honours
Here is a list of notable living fashion designers who have received a CBE, OBE or MBE for services to the fashion industry:
- John Galliano CBE (Gazette issue 56237)
- Katherine Hamnett CBE (Gazette issue 59647)
- Betty Jackson CBE*** (Gazette issue 58358)
- Stella McCartney CBE**** (Gazette issue 63714)
- John Rocha CBE (Gazette issue 56430)
- Victoria Beckham OBE (Gazette issue 61803)
- Ozwald Boateng OBE (Gazette issue 57855)
- Sarah Jane Burton OBE (Gazette issue 60173)
- Jasper Conran OBE (Gazette issue 58557)
- Julien Macdonald OBE (Gazette issue 58014)
- Phoebe Philo OBE (Gazette issue 60728)
- Christopher Bailey MBE (Gazette issue 59090)
- Luella Bartley MBE (Gazette issue 59282)
- Grace Wales Bonner MBE (Gazette issue 63714)
- Hussein Chalayan MBE (Gazette issue 58014)
- Craig Green MBE (Gazette issue 63714)
- Wayne Hemmingway MBE (Gazette issue 58014)
- Roksanda Ilinčić MBE (Gazette issue 64082)
- Cath Kidston MBE (Gazette issue 59282)
***Betty Jackson also received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1987 (Gazette issue 50948)
****Stella McCartney also received an OBE in 2012 (Gazette issue 60367)
The most recent appointment to the Order of the Companions of Honour was fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, who was announced in the 2020 Queen's Birthday honours (Gazette issue 63135) on 10 October 2020.
Former fashion designers who have received British honours
Here is a list of notable former fashion designers who received a CBE, OBE or MBE for services to the fashion industry:
- Alexander McQueen CBE (Gazette issue 56963)
- Jane Muir CBE (Gazette issue 49583)
Foreign fashion designers with honorary British honours
Anybody in the UK can make a recommendation for a British national to receive an honour. However, the Foreign Office does also recommend honorary awards for foreign nationals to be approved by His Majesty The King.
Ralph Lauren is the latest foreign fashion designer to receive an honorary British honour. He was awarded an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) for services to fashion in June 2019 at Buckingham Palace, becoming the first American designer to be awarded the UK honour.
See also
What is the difference between a CBE, OBE, MBE and a knighthood?
British authors who have received UK honours
Find out more
Nominate someone for an honour or award (GOV.UK)
Types of honours and awards (GOV.UK)
Image: Getty Images
Publication updated: 19 June 2023