Rifat Ozbek Rifat Ozbek Rıfat Özbek (, ; born in 1953 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish-born fashion designer, known for his exotic, ethnically-inspired outfits. He was named British Designer of the Year in 1988 and 1992. Özbek was born in Istanbul, Turkey and grew up in a yali on the Bosphorus. He moved to London in the 1970s and lived in his parents flat in Belgravia whilst he was studying architecture and then fashion at Saint Martin's School of Art. After graduating in 1977 (or 1978), Özbek went to Italy where he designed clothes for Monsoon. In 1984 he established his
Workers for Freedom tipped three names for the Designer of the Year Award less than a month ahead of the British Fashion Awards – Workers for Freedom, the previous year's winner Rifat Ozbek and rising star Joe Casely-Hayford. Workers for Freedom picked up the prize, which was presented by Princess Diana, Summarising the brand's appeal, "The Times" said it had: "romantic folkloric style that remains in essence very British". In the succeeding fashion season, Workers for Freedom experienced an upturn in orders and interest, with Graham Nott saying: "You gain a little bit of confidence". Workers for Freedom's spring 1990 showing featured more