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 with a Knighthood Damehood CBE OBE MBE

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 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:

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:

***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:

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