BETHANY WILLIAMS
London College of Fashion graduate Bethany Williams is one such emerging designer doing things differently. Through her exciting collections that epitomise the meaning of positive fashion, Bethany champions social and environmental causes and challenges perceptions . For her debut LFW show last Sunday (as a menswear designer she usually shows during London Fashion Week Men’s in January), Bethany showcased her latest colllection produced in collaboration with women’s shelter Adelaide House – a safe space for women escaping homelessness and domestic violence in Liverpool. Bethany worked with TITH to cast homeless models for the runway show alongside activist Adwoa Aboah, while the entire collection was made from recycled and organic materials, like waste product from Liverpool’s Echo Newspaper.
It’s easy to see why Bethany was presented with the second Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design (last year presented to Richard Quinn).
This unique Award, initiated last year in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays in society and diplomacy, will be awarded annually to an emerging British fashion designer who shows exceptional talent and originality, whilst demonstrating value to the community and/or strong sustainable policies.
“As a designer thinking for the future, it’s a case of problem solving all the issues that face our generation – from the planet to the people – if we don’t do it, who is going to?” Bethany told Clare.