London Fashion Week commences on Friday, featuring both emerging and renowned designers unveiling their autumn/winter collections. Fashion enthusiasts are set to participate in festivities, as this hallmark event celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The British Fashion Council (BFC) representatives are scheduled to ring the opening bell at the London Stock Exchange on Thursday. To commemorate the occasion and acknowledge the creative industry’s impact on the British economy, iconic landmarks such as Covent Garden and the London Eye will be illuminated in green.
Since its inception in 1983, LFW has become synonymous with showcasing emerging talent and introducing the world to designers who have created some of the most iconic fashion brands, like Alexander McQueen and Burberry. Throughout the decades, it has been home to a wealth of remarkable fashion moments, from robots spray painting model Shalom Harlow’s dress at the McQueen show in 1999 to models transforming furniture into clothing at Hussein Chalayan’s exhibition in 2000. It has also nurtured many homegrown modeling talents and is now known for its commitment to promoting diversity and sustainability in the fashion industry.
Despite its long history and global reach, LFW is excitingly fresh this season. Several designers have reworked the format to take it in a new direction. For example, Belgian designer Raf Simons — who had to postpone his original LFW debut out of respect for Her Majesty the Queen — returned with a show at industrial nightclub Printworks in Canada Water on Thursday evening. Thousands packed into the venue to watch the show, featuring a series of futuristic-looking sets, including a giant inflatable whale.
Another highlight will be the return of LFW/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund winner Nicholas Kirkwood, whose sleek, geometric shirts are already worn by Rihanna and Thandiwe Newton. His unisex designs focus on deconstruction and sustainability and are crafted from recycled and deadstock materials. He has teamed up with a footwear brand this season to launch a line of hacked and deconstructed sneakers.
LFW’s showcasing program includes the biannual London Fashion Week Womenswear and Menswear shows, Designer Showrooms, events, and the discovery lab open to the public from 16 – 20 February. The BFC also provides mentoring and showcasing opportunities to designers through the NEWGEN scheme, which has helped give many of today’s biggest names their big break, including Ahluwalia, Alexander McQueen, Dunhill, Emilia Wickstead, ERDEM, Fashun, Grace Wales Bonner, JW Anderson, Roksanda and Simone Rocha.
If you’re looking for inspiration, head to the BFC website to see the full schedule of LFW/2024 catwalk shows, presentations, and events and access the designer’s seasonless wholesale collections via the digital showrooms. Or, visit the official London Fashion Week Facebook page to keep up with all the action.