London – Saul Nash in a winning streak. British Guyanan designer was awarded this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Prize for British design on Wednesday afternoon, ten days after being awarded the 2022 Walmark International Prize.
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, presented the award to Nash on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II during a gala, which showcased all of the BFC’s talent support initiatives, held at London’s Design Museum.
Nash, an alumnus of Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, has been honored for his “innovative concept of design” and for “developing new materials while actively pioneering new frontiers in the industry – imbuing sportswear design while exploring heritage, performance and technical innovation”, which is well proven. Through his Woolmark Prize capsule collection.
The designer collaborated with Knitwear Lab from the Netherlands on high-tech compression pieces made from merino wool with a high-capacity capsule. It was shown as part of the designer’s Fall 2022 collection during London Fashion Week in February.
“This week we felt like a dream!” Nash said. “Recognizing this way is an incredible vote of confidence – it would be for any designer, but I feel especially proud because this is a sportswear validation moment. The focus of my work has always been to push and open up new possibilities, from addressing preconceptions about sportswear to trying Challenging perceptions of gender norms in menswear.
He added, “It’s important to weave my own story into my work, and to keep it personal and true to myself… And that remains the ambition – to stay focused on innovation, community, and build conscious practice.”
He is the fifth recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Prize for British Design. Previous winners have been Richard Quinn, Bethany Williams, Rosh Mahtani from Alighieri, and Priya Ahluwalia.
Since 2018, a designer is selected by the BFC, in association with the Royal House every year for the award. The award cup is inspired by the Queen Elizabeth’s rose and hand-produced by Lucy Price at the Bauhinia Studios and in Birmingham’s Jewelery District.
The British Fashion Council has revealed that Nash, who is also a professional choreographer, has been selected for his role as “a cultural innovator whose work opens debates about identity, masculinity and class”.
Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, said: “Nash has a unique way of combining function, technology and detail in his design practices which has resulted in a new approach to luxury sportswear. His work explores the relationship between performance and menswear and is often presented through choreography. Beautiful and adorable. We are extremely proud of Saul and look forward to seeing his brand grow.”
His namesake brand, launched in 2018, debuted London Fashion Week with a plan to support emerging talents for Lulu Kennedy at Fashion Week in 2020 for three seasons. Under the support of BFC Newgen, Nash began his solo show last October.
The designs, which fall somewhere between luxury, sportswear and streetwear, are rooted in his Caribbean heritage and upbringing in North East London. He often shows his designs at his self-presentations or joint dance performances, which best illustrate how he aims to move.
Listed at Saul Nash RTW Fall 2022 on February 18, 2022 in London
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His Fall 2022 collection was presented alongside a video, set at one of London’s first West Indies barbershops at Kensal Rise, where Nash felt it truly relates to his heritage.
“In the sportswear industry, it’s always about bringing it to that place between where I come from and where I go. For me, most of the time I interacted with my culture was in the barbershop,” he told WWD at the time.
Elements that stood out included the idea of the mermaid, considered a benevolent deity in Caribbean culture; A print made of a Guyana flag waving across a projector, which Nash believes reflects the lush country landscape and captures the mood of celebration in Carnival style, and Nike shoes made for the show with soles made from Deadstock components.
Nash was also shortlisted as a semi-finalist for last year’s LVMH Young Fashion Designers Award, and received money from this year’s BFC Newgen scheme, along with 21 other designers.