Five years of the FACE Excellence Prize at Graduate Fashion Week
FACE (Fashion Academics Creating Equality) is proud to announce that applications are now open for the fifth year of FACE Excellence Prize 2025.
This prestigious award, in partnership with Graduate Fashion Week (GFW), honours outstanding graduating creatives from Black, and minoritised non-white backgrounds, spotlighting excellence across the spectrum of diverse creativity.
Last chance to enter: All final-year BA students graduating this year, can self-nominate
The FACE Excellence Prize was established in 2021 to address racial inequity in fashion education and to amplify underrepresented voices in the industry. Past winners include Joy Julius (Kingston School of Art, 2021), Meerim Mamatova 2022 (Kingston School of Art) Nothando Ngwawaira (Westminster School of Art, 2023), and Mahalia Ellis (Birmingham City University, 2024), each recognized for their innovative and socially conscious work.
“It’s all about embracing the richness and complexity of Black culture.” Mahalia Ellis FACE Excellence winner 2024 See her work here
The 2025 competition invites all final-year students graduating this year to self-nominate. Applicants do not have to belong to GFW member institutions. Applicants will submit work and a supporting statement via the GFW 2025 awards portal by 6:00 PM on Monday, 26th May 2025 here. A panel of industry experts will shortlist 12 candidates, who will then be invited to present their work during Graduate Fashion Week in London to a panel of FACE judges.
This award not only celebrates creative achievement but also serves as a platform for emerging talent to gain visibility and influence within the fashion industry, supported and encouraged by FACE
“Winning the FACE Excellence Award has given me a focus to decide how I go forward.” Nothando Ngwawaira
Contact: Media caryn@carynfranklin.co.uk or Instagram: @_weareface
FACE: Fashion and the Arts Creating Equity www.weareface.uk is committed to fostering equity and inclusion within fashion education and the broader industry. Our fifth FACE Excellence Prize follows the 1st Edition RACE Handbook as a free resource on the FACE website available to all educators here FACE began in 2020 to challenge the lack of Black culture and narrative in the arts. FACE has grown a membership spanning 30 institutions nationwide. Co-founders are Pascal Mathias, Sharon D Lloyd and Andrew Ibi.