• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Meet us
    • Open days
    • Virtual tours
    • Upcoming events
    • Applicant days
    • Meet us in your country
    • Chat to our students
    • Ask us a question
    • Order a prospectus
    • Our campuses
    • Our four campuses
    • Accommodation options
    • Our halls
    • Helping you find a home
    • What you can study
    • Find a course
    • Full A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Our academic departments
    • How to study with us
    • Undergraduate application process
    • Postgraduate application process
    • International student application process
    • Apprenticeships
    • Applying through Clearing
    • Transfer from another university
    • Fees and financial support
    • Undergraduate finance
    • Postgraduate finance
    • Our funding and support options
    • Supporting you
    • Your wellbeing
    • Student support and guidance tutors
    • Study skills support
    • Careers and employability
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Aerial view of the Moulsecoomb campus
About us
  • Your university
  • Governance and structure
  • Working with us
  • Statistics and legal
  • News and events
  • Contact us
  • News and events
    • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Coronavirus
    • Livestream
    • Open lectures
    • Term dates
  • News
    • News
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013

Pioneering Brighton graduate wins £200,000 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund award

Bethany Williams has won one of the UK fashion industry's major awards, with a cash prize of £200,000.

27 May 2021

After graduating from BA Fine Art Critical Practice in 2012, Williams took a masters at London College of Fashion, then launched a pioneering fashion label in 2017. She focuses on bringing about social change via collaborations with different charities each season, while addressing broader fashion industry problems ranging from agricultural practices to communication. You can hear Bethany talking about some of her work using recycled sustainable textiles on YouTube.

The British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund was established in 2008, and this year's panel praised Bethany for reconfiguring what fashion’s relationship with philanthropy and sustainability could look like. As well as spotlighting subjects ranging from homelessness to the prison system, she uses her collections to raises funds for charities, while training marginalised communities in new skills.

Bethany Williams

Bethany Williams

Photo of model with Vogue logo (image credit: Charlotte Wales)

Bethany Williams' fashion in Vogue, credit: Charlotte Wales

Speaking after her win, Bethany Williams said: “As designers, we are problem-solvers. We want to provide an alternative system for fashion production, as we believe fashion’s reflection upon the world can create positive change.”

Amanda Bright, Dean of the School of Art and Media, said: “It's wonderful to see Brighton's pillars of creativity, sustainability, partnership and inclusivity demonstrated so clearly and powerfully in the work of one of our alumni. We are so delighted for Bethany.”

British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful said: "The BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund continues to be a vital initiative within the UK fashion industry. During this unprecedented time, we need to continue to do our utmost to protect and nurture young talents that bring so much energy and excitement to British fashion."

Previous winners of the fund include Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Mary Katrantzou, Molly Goddard and Wales Bonner.

Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19
  • The Student Contract

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents