The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced in a statement that Sarah Burton OBE will receive the Trailblazer Award at The Fashion Awards 2019, on Monday 2 December at the Royal Albert Hall, London. As the creative director of Alexander McQueen, Sarah will be honoured for some of her most personal and visionary work to date through her narrative approach to the Alexander McQueen SS20 show and for her extraordinary work in championing UK-wide craftsmanship, highlighting skills important to the brand and essential to the industry. In the past year alone, Sarah has drawn on the expertise of the fabric mills of the North of England, Mallon linen and Irish beetling. 

Sarah has demonstrated a considered and consistent vision for the house, overseeing all aspects including brand image and retail concept; expanding to innovative retail spaces; new global flagship stores; exhibition spaces and educational programmes. This year saw the launch of the educational second floor of the Alexander McQueen flagship store on London’s Bond Street, a ground-breaking and highly innovative retail space. On the top floor, the flagship store hosts a unique community-building experiential space, intended to foster emerging talent and students throughout the UK; Sarah founded an education programme which connects universities and colleges from around the country offering students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of design and craft with the help of members of the McQueen design team. This pioneering approach starts in the UK and will be rolled out internationally in years to come.