Stella McCartney up against Christopher Kane and Mary Katrantzou for British Fashion Council’s Designer of the Year

Stella McCartney (REUTERS)

She created the kits that took Team GB to gold this summer, and now designer Stella McCartney has been nominated for a gong of her own.

McCartney, 40, is up against the acclaimed Christopher Kane, who designs for Versace’s second line Versus as well as his own label, and young talent Mary Katrantzou, whose innovation in print and work with the Parisian couture workshop Lesage wowed audiences at London Fashion Week, for the British Fashion Council’s Designer of the Year award.

The nomination, announced last night at a reception at The Savoy, reflects the success not only of McCartney’s Olympic offerings – which were loved by competitors and the crowd alike – but also of her own label, which posted a 34 per cent surge in profits last year alone. She has shown her wares in Paris since 2001, but her return to the capital last February to unveil a range of evening dresses was a highlight of the London shows.

“This year seemed like a great year to be a Londoner,” she said at that event. “I’m a born and bred Londoner, and my brand’s based here. My first ever show was here, so it’s a celebration really.”

That show, upon McCartney’s graduation from Central Saint Martin’s in 1995, featured appearances from her friends Yasmin le Bon, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell and a soundtrack written by her proud father, Sir Paul.

McCartney has also been nominated for the British Fashion Awards Red Carpet category, after her ‘optical illusion’ dresses have been seen on a slew of stars, including Kate Winslet and Charlize Theron, and for the Best Designer Brand award, along with Burberry, Mulberry and Alexander McQueen, who have all flown the flag for British fashion overseas in the past year.

Other nominees include the stylist Katie Grand and MA course director at Central Saint Martin’s Louise Wilson, who last year celebrated 20 years at the college, for the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator. Meanwhile, up-and-coming names JW Anderson and Simone Rocha – daughter of the illustrious John – battle it out for the Emerging Talent Award. The ceremony will take place in November.