IB Kamara, Dazed’s Editor in Chief, will officially be recognised for his contributions to culture at the 2021 iteration of the British Fashion Awards. The multidisciplinary stylist and image maker will be decorated with the Isabella Blow prize for Fashion Creator, which celebrates the most pioneering and boundary-breaking creatives within the industry. Past winners have included Pat McGrath, Edward Enninful, Nick Knight, Mert and Marcus, and Sam McKnight.
Born in Sierra Leone, Kamara spent his childhood in Gambia. At age 16, he moved to London, where he later attended Central Saint Martins. Since graduating, he has curated an instantly recognisable handwriting rooted in the mythologising of culture. Throughout his work, painted faces, headpieces, and high fashion are brought together as traditional dress, forging a global vision set somewhere far away from earth. His editorials have landed in the pages of most major fashion magazines, working with the likes of Paolo Roversi, David Sims, and Rafael Pavarotti, while counting Rihanna, Beyoncé, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Madonna, and Solange as close collaborators.
At Dazed, Kamara’s expansive outlook has shone a light on global youth culture, straddling Lagos, Barbados, Saigon, Cape Town, and Guatemala, transforming the magazine into a living, breathing document of our times, one he hopes will be studied in schools around the world. “Kamara has through his storytelling and unique point of view inspired people from all backgrounds to explore fashion, making him hugely respected within the fashion community and a source of inspiration for many generations to come,” Caroline Rush, CEO of The British Fashion Council says.
“We are thrilled to present the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator to IB Kamara and acknowledge him for his incredible contribution to the global fashion industry.” This year’s ceremony, sponsored by TikTok, will be held on November 29 at the Royal Albert Hall – stay tuned for our lowdown on the evening and have a flick through what’s gone down in the past here.
