Although by no means responsible for the onset of " Cool Britannia " , the arrival of the Spice Girls added to the new image and re-branding of Britain , and underlined the growing world popularity of British , rather than American , pop music . This fact was underlined at the 1997 Brit Awards ; the group won two awards but it was Halliwell 's iconic red , white and blue Union Jack mini-dress that appeared in media coverage around the world , becoming an enduring image of " Cool Britannia " . In 2016 , '' Time '' acknowledged the Spice Girls as " arguably the most recognisable face " of " Cool Britannia "
1997 Brit Awards
1997 Brit Awards
Spice Girls