A Highland Fashion Fling: The Scottish Fashion Awards 2011

I have always been fiercely proud of where I was born and grew up. Glasgow, Scotland will always be my home. It’s a culture that has shaped me and influences who I am to this day and I give it a lot of credit to my successes.

I have never felt so honoured to have been selected as a nominee for this year’s Scottish Fashion Awards in the ‘Communicator of the Year’ category. I found out online the night before receiving the official email, which really set it in stone for me, and then Vogue.com posted the full nominee list shortly after. As someone recently mentioned to me, this is “my Oscars”.

I cannot express to you how thrilled I am to be included in such an inspiring group of people:

A very charismatic MD of a an international fashion house, a leading casting director behind the looks of Luella Bartley and Pucci, a trend setter that stormed Canada and became a fashion voice of authority, a designer come musician whose inspirational wearable, fruitful art makes for a highly intriguing fashion / art installation, and a blogger whose influential local word is shaping trends and influencing a new generation, form the Scottish Communicator of the Year category. We Scots can talk and with this lot, their talking has certainly taken them to new heights!

The nominees are: Marc Psarolis– Managing Director Duchamp, Angus Munro-Model Casting Director, Gail McInnes- Magnet Creative, Canada, Philip Colbert– http://www.therodnikband.com and Le Garcons de Glasgow, blogger personified.

It’s still sinking in. I had already made plans to visit this year, but I could not think of a better reason to go back to my home city and celebrate Scots in fashion who are making their mark internationally as well as back home. Luckily one of my favourite and very down-to-earth gal pals and fashion illustrator extraordinaire, Danielle Meder, will be attending with me to help keep me calm. Just being in the same room as some of these incredible names listed below is a wonderful dream come true.

The full list of 2011 nominees:

Fashion Icon – Sponsored by Capital FM  (Vote for your favourite fashion icon here.)

• Gerard Butler
• Tilda Swinton
• George Lamb
• Freya Mavor
• Karen Gillan
• Laura McMonagle
• Sharleen Spiteri
• Sam Robertson
• Amy MacDonald
• Kelly MacDonald

Designer of the Year – Sponsored by VOGUE.COM

• Christopher Kane
• Jonathan Saunders
• Holly Fulton
• Louise Gray
• E-Tautz

Young Designer of the Year  – Sponsored by The Scottish Fashion Council

• Kerry Nixon
• Obscure Couture
• Iona Crawford
• Henrietta Ludgate
• Marc Ross
• Alice Palmer

Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Braehead

• Spoiled Brat
• ROX
• Mackintosh
• Bunmi Koko

Model of the Year  – Sponsored by Toni & Guy Haircare

• Vanessa Kanbi-Premier
• Tali Lennox-Next
• Sophie Kennedy-Clark – Storm
• Louis Galloway-Elite
• Freddie Rayner-Model Team
• Eunice Olumide – AMQ models

Graduate of the Year – Sponsored by Marks & Spencer

• Pamela Aitken-Heriot Watt University
• Carolyn Edmondson-Grays School of Art
• Sarah Anne Watkins-Cardonald College
• Christina McIntosh-Grays School of Art
• Campbell Dunn- Huddersfield University
• Nicola Paxton-ECA
• Sarah Elizabeth Struthers-Grays School of Art
• Sian Parker-Grays School of Art

International Collection of the Year – Sponsored by Hotel Du Vin

• Rag & Bone
• Henry Holland
• Mulberry
• DAKS

Communicator of the Year – Sponsored Glasgow Airport

• Marc Psarolis – Duchamp
• Angus Munro – Model casting director
• Gail McInnes – Magnet Creative
• Philip Colbert – The Rodnik Band
• Les Garcons de Glasgow – Bloggers

Best Use of Scottish Textiles – Sponsored by The Herald

• Harris Tweed Hebrides
• Angela Cassidy
• Jo Gordan
• Eribe
• Joyce Paton

Accessory Designer of the Year  – Sponsored by Swarovski

• Emily Lamb (Shoe designer)
• Bebaroque (Hosiery designers)
• Euan McWhirter (Jewellery designer)
• William Chambers (Millinery designer)
• Pea Cooper (Millinery designer)

Here’s a glimpse into the incredible event from 2010, held in Glasgow: