The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce BLEUE BURNHAM as the winner of the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund (BFC/GQDFF). Established in 2013, the BFC/GQDFF provides the winner with a cash prize of £100,000 to support business growth and their contribution to the British and global fashion ecosystem. The winner receives business mentoring and professional guidance for the year including pro-bono legal services from Sheridans and support from Zedonk.
Founded in 2018 by Bleue Wickham-Burnham, BLEUE BURNHAM is a contemporary fine jewellery brand based in London. Shortlisted for the award in both 2023 and 2024, the brand crafts pieces that explore the relationship between human culture and nature, blending naturalism with luxury and timeless elegance.
Laura Weir, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council: “Congratulations to BLEUE BURNHAM, this year’s BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund winner. Bleue’s vision is bold and tender in equal measure and offers a fresh perspective on what modern jewellery design can be. This is also a landmark moment: Bleue becomes the first jewellery designer to receive this award – a powerful recognition of craft, expression, and pioneering creativity. Warm congratulations too to all of this year’s shortlisted designers. Your work continues to inspire and push boundaries.”
Adam Baidawi, Head of Editorial Content, British GQ & Deputy Global Editorial Director, GQ: “It’s an honour to present this year’s BFC / GQ Designer Fashion Fund to Bleue Burnham. This year's shortlist featured an astonishing array of talent, and only further fortifies what we've long known to be true: Britain is the home of some of the most superlative design in the world.
We were lucky enough to collaborate with Bleue on a set of custom signet rings for last year’s GQ Men of the Year Awards and were blown away by his unique approach to craftsmanship and attention to detail. The brand’s considered approach to design reflects the ethos we look to champion with this fund: distinct, modern, and sophisticated. We are proud to recognise and celebrate this brilliant and creative designer.”
Bleue Wickham-Burnham, Founder, BLEUE BURNHAM: “I am incredibly proud for Bleue Burnham to be this year’s BFC/GQ award winner and the first ever jewellery brand to win this award. For the British Fashion Council and GQ to show such belief in the value of our creativity and our business adds a new layer of buoyancy to our vision. We are super excited to use this support to build upon our current momentum and energise our plans for coming years.”
This year’s panel was chaired by Yvie Hutton, Director of Designer Relations & Membership, British Fashion Council and Adam Baidawi, Deputy Global Editorial Director, GQ & Head of British GQ. The panel included Angelo Mitakos, Fashion Editor, British GQ; Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe, Entrepreneur, Founder, Celebrity Fashion Stylist, Beauty Expert & Interior Decorator; Murray Clark, Senior Style Editor, British GQ; Paul Spencer, CEO, Represent and Tahir Basheer, Partner in the Advertising and Brands, Digital Media, Fashion and Design, Music, Talent and Visual Arts Groups, Sheridans.
The shortlisted designers for the 2025 prize were clothsurgeon, HARRI, LABRUM London and Saul Nash.