Kicking off this year’s Fashion Awards, the British Fashion Council’s fashion fundraising extravaganza, Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou of 10 Magazine has been named a recipient of the Special Recognition Award for her contribution to the fashion industry.
Slated for Dec. 2 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the annual event is a primary fundraiser for the BFC Foundation.
Neophitou-Apostolou is a highly respected figure in the London fashion scene. She launched 10 Magazine in 2000 and has expanded the 10 franchise to men’s fashion, with global editions in Australia, the U.S., Japan and, most recently, Germany.
She is also known for her close collaborations with brands including Antonio Berardi, Roland Mouret, Richard Nicoll, Katharine Hamnett, Sinha Stanic, Elie Saab and Pringle of Scotland, as well as her decade-long creative partnership with Victoria’s Secret.
Neophitou-Apostolou, who spoke to WWD over the phone right after the Chanel haute couture show in Paris, said she felt “truly honored” about the recognition.
“It’s lovely to be to get the recognition, but that’s not why we do it. None of us do it for that. We do it to have a platform to create, to be inspired and to invite other people and nurture the world we live in. I am also here to help the designers achieve what they need, give them platforms, and find solutions for them. And it’s great when someone says ‘Well done,’” she said.
Upon learning the news via a letter from the BFC, Neophitou-Apostolou is planning a major celebration later this year, and she is likely to wear one of her vintage Galliano pieces to the red carpet of the award ceremony. “If I can manage to squeeze my body into it, that’s what I’ll wear,” she quipped.
“There’s going to be a celebration. We are planning to invite all the people who made it all possible all along the way, from the very beginning, like Sarah Mower, who I was assisting at Vogue as an intern back in the day, to the designers and all the creatives, just everyone that’s been part of the journey and made possible this whole world of mine,” she said.
On the expansion front, Neophitou-Apostolou teased that there will be two additional regional editions of 10 Magazine to be announced in September.
Caroline Rush, chief executive officer at the BFC, said Neophitou-Apostolou’s visionary approach has had “a profound impact on the industry, where she has shaped the modern landscape and consistently championed new talent. For over 20 years, Neophitou-Apostolou has impressively combined creativity with commercial acumen, setting a new standard for fashion publishing, editorials and brands.”
More designer nominations and award announcements, such as the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, the Trailblazer Award and the Leader of Change Award are expected to be revealed in the coming months, leading up to the main event, which counts Pandora as a headline sponsor.