The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced that Rei Kawakubo, Adrian Joffe and Dickon Bowden will receive the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator at The Fashion Awards in London next month.

The trio is being recognised on 1 December in London “for their incredible contribution to the global fashion industry through the establishment of Dover Street Market (DSM), an internationally renowned shop for emerging talent, established brands and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Widely regarded as the first concept store of its kind, DSM has become an innovative platform for immersive brand storytelling and artistic exploration”.

DSM celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and has become a key name at the cutting edge of international luxury fashion retail. But it’s seen as more than just a shop. The BFC said that “through experimental installations and unconventional displays, it has created a living, breathing cultural space that dissolves the boundaries between fashion, art and commerce. DSM has fostered a collaborative community in the fashion industry and continues to shape the global conversation with locations in London, Tokyo, New York City, Singapore, Beijing, Los Angeles and Paris”.

While Comme des Garçons co-founder and creative director Kawakubo is perhaps the best-known name among DSM’s founders, all three have played a key part.

Kawakubo “has greatly influenced the contemporary fashion industry with her revolutionary designs and shaped the conceptual foundation of DSM,” the BFC said. 

Meanwhile Adrian Joffe is the CEO and co-founder and president of Comme des Garçons International. “His leadership has been instrumental in the brand curation and evolution of the DSM concept over time”. 

And Bowden is the VP of DSM as well as “a guiding force in the company’s international expansion”.

BFC chief executive Laura Weir said: “Rei, Adrian and Dickon’s steadfast commitment to innovation, support for emerging talent and dedication to building an authentic creative community continue to influence the industry and challenge wider fashion discourse.”

Previous recipients of the Isabella Blow Award for include Tyler Mitchell, Campbell Addy, Edward Enninful, IB Kamara, Katie Grand, Amanda Harlech, Mert & Marcus, Nick Knight, Pat McGrath, Professor Louise Wilson and Sam McKnight.