Stella McCartney, Armani & Liberty, among the PETA Fashion Awards 2016 winners

London - Stella McCartney, Armani and Liberty are just a few of the winners of this year's PETA Fashion Awards.

As sustainability, compassion and innovation continue to act as some of the key drivers for the fashion industry, animal rights group PETA has decided to relaunch its annual Fashion Awards, which aim to celebrate both brands and designers who have made outstanding animal friendly achievements this year.

British designer Stella McCartney was named Designer of the Year for her lifetime commitment to animal-welfare, as she refuses to use fur, leather or any other animal derived products in her designs. The Armani Group was honoured as the Biggest Luxury Fashion Moment for its decision to go fur-free this March, and the Amelie Pichard x Pamela Anderson won the Best Collaboration of the year award for its "sexy and sustainable" vegan footwear collection.

"The winners have proved that compassion is the new name in fashion as demand soars for innovative animal-free designs", said PETA Director Elisa Allen in a statement. "Forward-thinking designers are experimenting with sustainable, cutting-edge vegan materials and offering a vast array of fabulous cruelty-free choices – from high street to high-end."

Other winner of the PETA Fashion Awards 2016 include Liberty, who was named the Most Progressive Luxury Retailer and awarded for its ongoing stance against fur and exotice skins, Rombaut, winner of the Best Newcomer Awards for its progressive unisex footwear line and Ruby + Ed, who were named Best Faux-Fur Brand for their customised bombers which were Fashion Week hit.

The PETA Fashion Awards 2016 also honoured Denise Roobol, who won the Best Vegan Exotic-Skin Collection, Melie Bianco, winner of the Best Animal-Friendly Accessories awards, Vaute, winner of the Best Wool-Free Brand, Bourgeois Boheme, winner of the Best Cruelty-Free Shoes, and Flocus, who won the Innovation Award for developing kapok, a down alternative made from natural seed fibre.

Photos: Courtesy of PETA