The Golden Shears Awards returns in 2025, marking an impressive 50 years of celebrating the finest emerging tailoring talent in the UK. Founded in 1974 by Robert Bright, MBE, the awards are widely regarded as the “Oscars of the Tailoring World,” providing a prestigious platform for the next generation of tailors to showcase their creative vision and technical skills.
This year’s Golden Shears Awards will take place on Monday, 17th March, at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall. Held every two years, the event brings together fashion students and apprentice tailors, recognising their craftsmanship through a rigorous judging process and a live catwalk final where three winners will be crowned.
The Next Generation of Tailoring Talent
From nearly 90 entries, 25 finalists have been selected to compete in the Golden Shears Final 2025. Their work has been assessed on technical excellence, with all applicants required to demonstrate mastery in both design and tailoring. Entrants include apprentices from tailoring houses and students from university and college tailoring courses, each having been vetted by their master tailor or course leader.
The highly anticipated final will feature a live catwalk show, where industry experts will determine the winners of three prestigious awards:
- 1st Prize: The Golden Shears and £3,000
- 2nd Prize: The Silver Shears and £2,500
- 3rd Prize: The Rising Star and £2,000
Judging Panel of Industry Experts
The competition is judged by leading professionals across technical craftsmanship and style, ensuring the highest standards of tailoring are upheld.
Technical Judges:
- Joe Morgan, Chittleborough & Morgan
- Will Adams, Dunhill
- Patrick Murphy, Davies & Son
- Juan Carlos Benito, Monte Lys
- Brigitte Steputis, Vivienne Westwood
Style Judges:
- Lisa Armstrong OBE, Head of Fashion at The Daily Telegraph
- Jo Hooper, Founder of NRBY Clothing
- Catherine Hayward, Fashion Editor and Creative Director
- Stuart Trevor, Founder of All Saints and STUART TREVOR clothing brands
- Jayesh Vaghela, Master Hatter at Lock & Co. and resident hatter on BBC’s The Repair Shop
The evening will be hosted by Nick Hewer and Simon Cundey, representing Henry Poole & Co., adding to the event’s reputation as an essential fixture in the tailoring industry calendar.
Honouring Craftsmanship and Supporting Future Tailors
The Golden Shears Awards continues to be supported by CAPITB Trust, The Drapers’ Company, The Merchant Taylors’ Company, and The Pollen Estate. This enduring commitment to nurturing emerging talent ensures that British tailoring remains at the forefront of craftsmanship and innovation.
Jenny Casebourne, Head of Portfolio at The Pollen Estate, highlighted the importance of investing in the future of tailoring:
“The Pollen Estate is pleased to support The Golden Shears awards again this year. As custodians of Savile Row and surrounding streets, the next generation of tailors are important to our community and these awards are a testament to craftsmanship in the UK. We are excited to help nurture the future generations in their knowledge and skills of suit making and we look forward to seeing more young talent entering a career in tailoring.”
As the Golden Shears celebrates its 50th anniversary, this year’s competition is set to be a true showcase of the heritage, skill, and innovation that define the UK’s tailoring industry.