French Fashion Queen Nicole Farhi awarded honorary CBE

40/08
14 May 2008

French-born fashion designer Nicole Farhi was today presented with an honorary CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham in recognition of her services to the fashion industry.

Having begun her career in Paris as a freelance for established French designers such as Agnes B, Nicole moved to London in early 1973 to work with Stephen Marks, the founder of French Connection.  In 1982, the Nicole Farhi label was launched, affording her the creative freedom to design collections more true to her personal philosophy – “You should be true to yourself in the clothes you wear.”  This has helped make her a sought-after designer by the public as well as celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Colin Firth.

Ms Farhi has branched out into home ware, shoes, swimwear and accessories, as well as her restaurant, Nicole’s, in New York.  She has eight stores in London including one devoted exclusively to her Home collection.

Andy Burnham said:

“It gives me great pleasure to present this honorary CBE to Nicole Farhi.  With her award-winning collections, she has helped to place - and keep - London at the very centre of the fashion world.  She is known for her sought-after designs, and her London-based business has played an important role in showing the rest of the world what an exciting and diverse place Britain is for fashion.”

Ms Farhi said:

“I am both privileged and delighted to be awarded this honour by Her Majesty the Queen for my contributions to the fashion industry in Britain.

“I was born in France but I have been lucky enough to work in Britain for more than 30 years in an industry which, since the 1960s, has provided inspiration to designers all over the world.”

Notes to editors

  1. Individuals who are not UK citizens or citizens of Commonwealth countries of which The Queen is Head of State are eligible to be considered for honorary awards for their services to the UK.  It is not customary for The Queen to present honorary awards.  The insignia of honorary awards for candidates resident in the UK are normally presented by the Government minister appropriate to the service rendered.


  2. Nicole Farhi was born in Nice, France in 1946.  She now lives in London and is married to the playwright David Hare.
    Nicole has received a number of awards for her work including the classic award at the British Fashion awards in 1989 and the contemporary collection category in 1995, 1996 and 1997.  She was named menswear designer of the year by FHM in 2000, and British designer of the year in the 2001 Maxim awards.

  3. Nicole has a number of stores in London and Birmingham as well as New York, Paris, Dubai and Milan.  She also has two ‘Nicole’s’ restaurants in London and New York.

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