London is the global fashion capital for creativity and innovation. I never get tired of saying or writing those words as they are something we should be indiscriminately proud of. We have just come out of London Fashion Week, which ran from the 13th September to the 17th September. This season was a celebration of 40 years of loud, proud and unapologetic creative talents that form this global platform that attracts audiences from over 40 countries – predominantly media, retailers and collaborators from all create spheres. Through the amplified voice of social and media channels, London Fashion Week reaches millions of industry individuals and fashion fans across the world.
Fashion designers and luxury businesses continue to face disruption through wholesale, challenges accessing low cost finance, and movement of goods in and out of Europe – and yet, they have shown incredible resilience in adoption of new business models and engagement of new audiences.
Burberry, London Fashion Week’s largest fashion brand, continues to attract many international guests, however many other established independent businesses – from JW Anderson to Erdem to Simone Rocha and many more – remain hot tickets for celebrity talent as well as leading style journalists and retailers alike.
Many designers that now show at London Fashion Week came through the BFC NewGen talent programme that celebrated its 30th year anniversary last year – and the majority of those designers came through the UK’s fashion universities and its acclaimed art schools, which are globally known as leaders in fashion design education. These graduates – now designers, creative entrepreneurs and global business leaders – are known for their ability to challenge the norms of our industry, society, preconceptions and unconscious biases. They lead the world as a creative collective of free thinkers and challengers. What a reputation to be proud of! The soft power influence of that reputation is respected around the world and is often sought to be leveraged in global markets by government and established institutions.
Retailers are drawn to our independent businesses as they provide a point of difference, a unique perspective and have loyal fanbases around the world who covet each collection supporting retail sales. Editors and members of the media enjoy the spectacle of the newness, the performance, the intertwining of other creative influences and art forms, and, of course, the shows themselves.
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These shows aren’t the output of the designer alone, they are a creative collaboration with the world’s leading hair and make-up artists, set designers, show producers, casting agents, models and DJs. Again, here in London, we have an unparalleled pool of homegrown creatives also known for the mastery of their craft, invited all over the world but supporting the eco-system of British design during London Fashion Week.
So what next for London Fashion Week? The week is about celebrating, uplifting and spotlighting incredible British businesses. It is about the dialogue between businesses and industry and the dialogue that ensues from our industry being challenged by what we see on London’s catwalks. It is a fantastic showcase of the independence of the UK’s leading businesses and those that are part of this incredible creative community. It is about nurturing talent and inspiring the next generation as much as it is about sales and clicks and likes and it will continue to be the global platform for free thinking creative businesses.
> Want to learn more about the importance of creative education to the British luxury? Read our 'The State of London Luxury 2024' report here
Photo credit: RANKIN
