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SS Daley has carved out a unique identity, partly by riffing on the uniform of the British upper classes. It seems fitting, therefore, that the brand has won a royal award.
Founder and creative director Steven Stokey-Daley was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design by the Duchess of Edinburgh on Thursday morning, making him the seventh recipient to date. The first was Richard Quinn in 2018; last year it was presented to Labrum founder and creative director Foday Dumbuya.
“I reference British aristocracy [in my designs], so to be acknowledged by a royal award is a full circle moment,” says Stokey-Daley at the presentation, which took place against the gilded backdrop of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
It comes at another inflection point for the SS Daley brand: on Friday, Stokey-Daley will present his first-ever womenswear collection on the London Fashion Week schedule — part of plans to expand the business after it received investment from Harry Styles at the start of the year.
The Queen Elizabeth II Award was launched by the late monarch in recognition of the role fashion plays in society, and to spotlight young designers who are making a difference through either sustainable practices or community engagement. Stokey-Daley “fitted the bill very well”, says Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council (BFC).
“This was a fantastic opportunity to put a spotlight on Steven as he launches womenswear,” she says. “He thinks about how you can tell stories through fashion and the community that he’s built around the brand. And from the beginning, he’s thought about the fabric choices from a sustainability perspective.”
She adds that the award aims to raise a designer’s profile internationally. “In the [British] industry, we all know about Steven, but for those not in the industry or maybe some international markets, it will raise his profile. [...] That’s the power of working closely with the royal family — that respect and recognition of emerging talent and creativity in this country.”
Stokey-Daley is no stranger to industry recognition. In 2022, he won the LVMH Prize and the BFC’s Foundation Award for emerging talent. Rush underlines the need for such awards, perhaps now more than ever: “People forget creative businesses are cash intensive. After Brexit and the pandemic, and with the challenges in wholesale at the moment, it’s been one of the most difficult periods to grow a designer business in the UK. It’s really important that we support these businesses.”
Stokey-Daley echoes this, ending on a note of optimism about the future. “It’s been a tough year for London, and so, in this moment, I feel very grateful. But I also think we’re about to enter a busy fashion week where London will prove its resilience.”
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