Entries are now open for the Boutique Star Awards 2025, celebrating the resilience, innovation and creativity that defines the independent fashion retail industry.

First launched in 2019, the competition helps raise the profile of the sector by giving national recognition to the UK’s most outstanding womenswear and lifestyle indies and their suppliers. The awards also offer a unique opportunity for networking and promotions: industry insiders can all get involved by entering the competition, sponsoring an event category or attending the winners’ party.

There are 20 accolades on offer this year, with eight new categories making their debut. New for 2025, Boutique magazine readers will also have the opportunity to nominate and vote for their Favourite Supplier of the Year for the very first time.

This year’s entry process has been simplified, ensuring accessibility for all businesses. Entrants are required to answer five key questions using the judging criteria to demonstrate why they would be a worthy winner. Answers can be submitted via boutique-magazine.co.uk/submit-an-entry/ or returned by email before Monday 30 June 2025.

Entries will be shortlisted and then judged by a panel of industry insiders, with last year’s line-up including Sunday Best’s Jan Shutt, James Crabtree from AIS/ INDX, Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre and retail expert Catherine Erdly from the Resilient Retail Club. The winners will be unveiled at a glittering ceremony at The May Fair Hotel in London on Thursday 13 November.

Retailers can compete across nine categories, with new awards such as Manager of the Year, Online Shop of the Year, Charity Partner of the Year, and Loyalty Programme of the Year joining established favourites like Fashion Independent of the Year, Social Media Strategy of the Year, Sustainability Advocate of the Year, and Store Design of the Year.

For suppliers, there are eight categories up for grabs including new awards like Conscious Brand of the Year, Womenswear Brand of the Year, Family-Founded Brand of the Year, and Emerging Brand of the Year. These sit alongside existing accolades including Fashion Agency of the Year, British Brand of the Year, Accessories Brand of the Year, and Footwear Brand of the Year.

Additionally, three nomination-only categories will be awarded to individuals and brands making a significant impact on the industry: Lifetime Achievement, Outstanding Business and Favourite Supplier of the Year.

“We’re thrilled to launch this year’s Boutique Star Awards, celebrating the best in independent fashion,” says Boutique magazine MD Julie Neill. “We’ve made it even easier for retailers and suppliers to enter, with a more flexible submission process. Given the challenges of the past year, we’re especially excited to recognise and reward the inspiring stories of resilience and success in our industry.”

Last year’s awards ceremony at The May Fair Hotel was a highlight of the independent fashion calendar, attended by leading names such as Young Ideas, Ediit, Chloe James Lifestyle, and Renes Fashion. Among the winners were Velvet for Fashion Independent of the Year, Artichoke for Social Media Strategy of the Year, and Salt Society for New Independent of the Year. Special recognition went to OSOboutique’s Katie Gibbs for best Newcomer while Nigel and Claudia Hughes from Apt Collections received the Lifetime Achievement award.

Could this be the year you’re presented with a trophy? Learn more about the categories and submit your entry here.