Ken Done has been awarded the Australian Fashion Laureate Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022.
Kenneth Stephen Done AM is an Australian artist best known for his paintings, but who also manufactures a range of clothing and homewares under the 'Done Design' brand.
The awards recognise excellence across categories including Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year, Indigenous Designer of the Year, Sustainable Innovation of the Year and People’s Choice.
The pinnacle title, the Australian Fashion Laureate Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrates a longstanding and meaningful impact on the Australian fashion industry.
Done joined a number of winners to be recognised at an intimate awards ceremony, staged today at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.
These include Emerging Designer Of The Year Lesleigh Jermanus (Alemais), Indigenous Designer of The Year Laura Thompson (Clothing The Gaps), People's Choice Rebecca Vallance and Sustainable Innovation Of The Year Sarah Munro and Robert Sebastian Grynkofki (Sarah & Sebastian).
The Designer Of The Year award was presented to Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman (Camilla & Marc) with the Carla Zampatti leadership award handed to AFC CEO Leila Naja Hibri.
IMG Fashion Events and Properties APAC MD Natalie Xenita congratulated the lineup of winners this year.
“For fifteen years, the Australian Fashion Laureate has provided an important platform to showcase the depth and expertise of the Australian fashion industry. It's a privilege to honour the exceptional talent of today’s winners and nominees and reflect on and celebrate the collective achievements of our industry in the company of esteemed peers.”
2022 Australian Fashion Laureate finalists included:
Designer of the Year, presented by BTC Markets
Adrian Norris and Edwina Forest, Aje
Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman, CAMILLA AND MARC
Christopher Esber
Rachel Gilbert
Emerging Designer of the Year, presented by LG
Alix Higgins
Jordan Dalah
Jordan Gogos, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos
Lesleigh Jermanus, ALÉMAIS
Indigenous Designer of the Year, presented by Redken
Denni Francisco, Ngali
Laura Thompson, Clothing The Gaps
TJ Cowlishaw, AARLI
Liandra Gaykamangu, Liandra Swim
Sustainable Innovation of the Year, presented by DHL
Bianca Spender
Kit Willow, KITX
Matt Jenson, M.J. Bale
Sarah Munro and Robert Sebastian Grynkofki, Sarah and Sebastian
The Australian Fashion Laureate was established by IMG and the NSW Government in 2008 and is supported through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
Nominees were determined by a panel of industry leaders comprised of Australian Fashion Laureate alumni, including leading fashion journalists, creatives and top retail executives.