Stella McCartney named Designer of the Year at BFAs (+video)

Stella McCartney, winner of Designer of the Year award, at the British Fashion Awards.Photo / AP

Designer Stella McCartney was the big winner at the British Fashion Awards, picking up two gongs.

The daughter of singing legend Paul McCartney was named Designer of the Year - the award recognised as the highest accolade in British fashion on Tuesday night.

She also picked up the Designer Brand award on behalf of her label, topping off a busy year which brought her designs to the world stage in the form of Team GB's London 2012 kit.

The evening saw 12 other awards presented to fashion industry figures, with a host of big names presenting accolades and posing on the red carpet at London's Savoy Hotel.

While Hollywood star Salma Hayek presented McCartney with her Designer of the Year statuette, British Fashion Council ambassador Samantha Cameron presented celebrity favourite Erdem with the New Establishment award.

The honour of Outstanding Achievement in Fashion was awarded to shoe designer Manolo Blahnik - an award thought of as one of the most significant of the evening.

Other winners included fashionista Alexa Chung who picked up the award for British Style, marking the third time she has been recognised at the British Fashion Awards for her style credentials, and she remains the sole winner of this award since its introduction in 2010.

Harold Tillman, chairman of the British Fashion Council (BFC), won the Special Recognition award and said it has been an "exceptional year" for British Fashion.

He said: "The British Fashion Awards are a significant event which represent the culmination of extraordinary talent, creativity and innovation across the whole industry."

- AP