Delphine Arnault to be recognised at Fashion Awards in December

Delphine Arnault will be given a a Special Recognition Award “for her exceptional contribution to the global fashion industry” at The Fashion Awards in December, the British Fashion Council (BFC) announced on Monday.

The ceremony, which will take place on 1 December at the Royal Albert Hall in London, is part of the BFC’s key fundraising drive for its Foundation. 

As well as hailing Arnault’s contribution to the industry, the award is a recognition of her “longstanding commitment to championing emerging talent”. She spearheaded the launch of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers in 2014 and it’s now one of the most prestigious international platforms for nurturing new creatives. 

Past winners include Marques’Almeida, NensiI Dojaka, Setchu, SS Daley and Wales Bonner. 

Her commitment is also reflected in Dior Men’s support of the BFC Foundation MA Scholarship, which funds a UK-based menswear design student every two years. 

She’s been chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture since 2023 but began her career at McKinsey before joining the John Galliano brand in 2000 to lead business development. She moved to Dior in 2008, moving through commercial director and deputy MD “during one of its most commercially and creatively successful periods, playing a key role in the expansion of its leather goods and accessories business”.

She also became executive VP of Louis Vuitton in 2013 and is a member of the LVMH board and of the executive committee. 

BFC chief Laura Weir said: “Delphine Arnault is one of the most visionary and influential leaders in global fashion – a figure whose impact is felt far beyond the boardroom. She combines strategic leadership with a genuine commitment to nurturing creativity, education and opportunity. Her belief in talent as the lifeblood of this industry has transformed countless careers and continues to shape fashion’s global future. We are proud to honour Delphine at The Fashion Awards 2025, in recognition of her contribution not only to the evolution of some of the world’s most iconic houses, but to the advancement of access and excellence across the fashion landscape.”