Our London Fashion Week guide
The highlight of London's fashion calendar returns to the capital in September with a new programme designed for public audiences
Our London Fashion Week guide
London Fashion Week has traditionally been the most exclusive event of London's fashion calendar. Taking place twice a year, the second LFW of 2019 returns to the capital 13-17 September, showcasing over 250 designers and staging many fashion-related events throughout the city. LFW is an essential event for fashion retail sales and it is estimated that orders of over £100m are placed during LFW each season.
Now the programme is no longer going to be targeted exclusively at industry insiders as, in a bid to reach new audiences, the British Fashion Council has announced that London Fashion Week will be the first of the four global fashion weeks to offer a dynamic programme designed for both a trade and public audience.
Catwalk shows for the trade audience will still be scheduled across five days of LFW from 13 – 17 September, but you'll no longer need A-lister access to step into the world of fashion throughout the week. Public tickets will be available for an immersive London Fashion Week experience which will allow access to six catwalks showcasing a selection of high-profile designers. Recently-announced designers taking part in the public catwalks include Henry Holland who will showcase his colourful London label House Of Holland and maker of 'it-dresses' Han Chong with his womenswear label self-portrait.
Ticket holders will be able to witness creative installations, industry-led talk panels, a new Designer Exhibition which showcases designers incorporating sustainability and ethics into their creative process and the discoveryLAB – 'an experiential space where fashion meets art, technology and music'.
The shows will take place at the official London Fashion Week Hub, Store Studios X 180 The Strand, on the Saturday and Sunday of LFW, and you can buy tickets here.
Even without a ticket, there are plenty of ways to feel involved during LFW. The British Fashion Council is planning a 'city wide celebration', partnering with retailers, cultural institutions and brands to build on the creative spirit that is one of London's most important exports.
As ever, fashion shows will be live streamed on Instagram, brand's websites and even The BFC's YouTube channel meaning you can tune in to the latest trends from virtually anywhere.
Following on from the success of 2018's Chubby Cloud, and The Weave Project in February, Anya Hindmarch has announced her latest experiential take on a fashion event.
The Postbox Maze is a giant red installation 'inspired by the patterns within MC Escher's Metamorphosis III mural', a work of art that was commissioned 50 years ago for The Hague Post Office.
The postal theme is a link to Hindmarch's latest bag collection, which features a postbox opening that the designer has said was a complex construction to master. There will also be broadcasts of remarkable letters from the ages, produced in association with Letters Live.
A gallery of curiosities on loan from The Postal Museum and calligraphy workshops with Quill London add a further dimension to this celebration of the handwritten word. Sure to be an interesting, and eminently Instagrammable, experience, you can buy tickets here.
Key brands to look out for at LFW:
Burberry
Last year Riccardo Tisci took over from Chief Creative Officer of the heritage British brand, replacing the much-loved Christopher Bailey. Many wondered whether an artistic director known for his Italian aesthetic would do justice to a brand so deeply ingrained in British culture, but he stunned the world with his debut Burberry show last September which infused modernity with timelessness.
Christopher Kane
As a fresh Central Saint Martins graduate, Christopher Kane broke onto the scene in 2006 with his strong feminine looks and daring, rebellious edge. He has since become a household name in British fashion with his designs having been worn by everyone from Taylor Swift to FKA Twigs.
Roksanda
Over the last decade, Serbian designer Roksanda Ilincic has crafted her signature style with her elegant gowns and contemporary looks. Today, she is recognised as one of the leading designers in London, where she has built her immensely sought-after brand.
Erdem
Gothic, beautiful, floral and dramatic designs by Erdem Moralioglu are some of the most covetable catwalk pieces in every fashion week. The Canadian and Turkish designer breathes uncertainty, darkness and danger into his otherwise innately feminine outfits.
Now the programme is no longer going to be targeted exclusively at industry insiders as, in a bid to reach new audiences, the British Fashion Council has announced that London Fashion Week will be the first of the four global fashion weeks to offer a dynamic programme designed for both a trade and public audience.
Catwalk shows for the trade audience will still be scheduled across five days of LFW from 13 – 17 September, but you'll no longer need A-lister access to step into the world of fashion throughout the week. Public tickets will be available for an immersive London Fashion Week experience which will allow access to six catwalks showcasing a selection of high-profile designers. Recently-announced designers taking part in the public catwalks include Henry Holland who will showcase his colourful London label House Of Holland and maker of 'it-dresses' Han Chong with his womenswear label self-portrait.
Ticket holders will be able to witness creative installations, industry-led talk panels, a new Designer Exhibition which showcases designers incorporating sustainability and ethics into their creative process and the discoveryLAB – 'an experiential space where fashion meets art, technology and music'.
The shows will take place at the official London Fashion Week Hub, Store Studios X 180 The Strand, on the Saturday and Sunday of LFW, and you can buy tickets here.
Even without a ticket, there are plenty of ways to feel involved during LFW. The British Fashion Council is planning a 'city wide celebration', partnering with retailers, cultural institutions and brands to build on the creative spirit that is one of London's most important exports.
As ever, fashion shows will be live streamed on Instagram, brand's websites and even The BFC's YouTube channel meaning you can tune in to the latest trends from virtually anywhere.
Following on from the success of 2018's Chubby Cloud, and The Weave Project in February, Anya Hindmarch has announced her latest experiential take on a fashion event.
The Postbox Maze is a giant red installation 'inspired by the patterns within MC Escher's Metamorphosis III mural', a work of art that was commissioned 50 years ago for The Hague Post Office.
The postal theme is a link to Hindmarch's latest bag collection, which features a postbox opening that the designer has said was a complex construction to master. There will also be broadcasts of remarkable letters from the ages, produced in association with Letters Live.
A gallery of curiosities on loan from The Postal Museum and calligraphy workshops with Quill London add a further dimension to this celebration of the handwritten word. Sure to be an interesting, and eminently Instagrammable, experience, you can buy tickets here.
Key brands to look out for at LFW:
Burberry
Last year Riccardo Tisci took over from Chief Creative Officer of the heritage British brand, replacing the much-loved Christopher Bailey. Many wondered whether an artistic director known for his Italian aesthetic would do justice to a brand so deeply ingrained in British culture, but he stunned the world with his debut Burberry show last September which infused modernity with timelessness.
Christopher Kane
As a fresh Central Saint Martins graduate, Christopher Kane broke onto the scene in 2006 with his strong feminine looks and daring, rebellious edge. He has since become a household name in British fashion with his designs having been worn by everyone from Taylor Swift to FKA Twigs.
Roksanda
Over the last decade, Serbian designer Roksanda Ilincic has crafted her signature style with her elegant gowns and contemporary looks. Today, she is recognised as one of the leading designers in London, where she has built her immensely sought-after brand.
Erdem
Gothic, beautiful, floral and dramatic designs by Erdem Moralioglu are some of the most covetable catwalk pieces in every fashion week. The Canadian and Turkish designer breathes uncertainty, darkness and danger into his otherwise innately feminine outfits.
