Wickstead Nominated for UK Fashion Prize

New Zealand fashion designer and royal favourite, Emilia Wickstead was one of four nominated for the fourth annual Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize, established by the hotel group in 2010 to discover and support emerging fashion talent.

The other three finalists also hailed from far afield, the winner, Huishan Zhang from China, Barbara Casasola from Brazil and label Fyodor Golan from both Latvia and Israel. All those nominated are London-based.

The Independent’s Alexander Fury writes: “[Wickstead’s] label is barely four years old, but [she] is probably the highest profile of the finalists. Why? Because a certain Duchess (of Cambridge) has been donning her garments and popping up on multiple international best-dressed lists.

“Hence Wickstead’s star is firmly in the ascendant. In 2011 Wickstead expanded her made-to-measure line into a ready-to-wear label, now stocked at net-a-porter.com, matchesfashion.com and Selfridges.

“‘Absolute luxury and elegance – but always with punch,’ is her summary of what the Dorchester means. It’s an apt description of her clothes, too.”