London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week stands alongside New York, Milan and Paris as part of the "Big Four" fashion weeks making up fashion month. It is the second fashion week taking place during fashion month, following New York and preceding Milan and Paris. London Fashion Week is the newest of the four — its first edition was organized in February 1984 by the British Fashion Council for the London Development Agency, held at the Commonwealth Institute's car park in Kensington.
London Fashion Week hosts spring collections shows in September, while fall collections are historically shown in February.
The city's fashion week was bolstered in 1985 when Princess Diana held a reception for various designers at Lancaster House.
In 1993, the British Fashion Council established the Newgen program, which helped support emerging designers. Newgen offers designers financial support, showcasing opportunities and mentoring to develop critical skills to help designers future-proof their businesses.
London Fashion Week has been through several venue changes, including Somerset House, Soho's Brewer Street and The Store Studios on The Strand, though many shows take place offsite at venues like Tate Modern and Royal Courts of Justice.
London's fashion scene was influenced early on from the city's clubs and counterculture — that vibe carries through to today, as many young, edgy designers show during London Fashion Week.
The city is known for classic British designs, including from Burberry. In recent years, eyes are also on Jonathan Anderson and his J.W. Anderson label, as well as Charles Jeffrey's Loverboy.
London Fashion Week has hosted its share of memorable moments, including Naomi Campbell walking topless for Philip Treacy in 1993; Spice Girl Mel B walking for Julien Macdonald in 1999; and Shalom Harlow twirling while robots spray painted her dress at Alexander McQueen's 1999 show.
London Fashion Week
JW Anderson RTW Fall 2021
Anderson said he wanted to do something "cleaner and more curatorial, with a focus on the silhouette, in this…
Huishan Zhang RTW Fall 2021
As usual, Zhang offers a wardrobe that's perfect for China's wealthy heiresses who like to dress up like…
David Beckham, Angelica Cheung Discuss British Fashion With WWD China
In a webinar in collaboration with the British Fashion Council, speakers shared how British and Chinese…
Priya Ahluwalia Receives Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design
The Countess of Wessex presented the award on behalf of the Queen on the final day of London Fashion Week.
Halpern RTW Fall 2021
Michael Halpern designed a joyful collection for life post-lockdown, filled with sparkle, sensual silhouettes…
Simone Rocha RTW Fall 2021
Rocha amplified her flair for juxtaposition, as she sought to channel a "fragile rebel" in every garment she…
Marrknull RTW Fall 2021
The brand pays tribute to China's martial arts culture by hanging models in the middle of the air by wire.
Danshan Men’s Fall 2021
Its fall 2021 collection is filled with labor-intensive innovative techniques to layer, slash and distress a…
Dunhill Men’s Fall 2021
It demonstrates a good amount of relaxation and playfulness in between tradition and modernity that reflect…
Daniel W. Fletcher Debuts Women’s Wear
Fletcher translated the traditional British military and workwear signatures he is known for into his first…
Xander Zhou Men’s Fall 2021
The collection is a smart remix and update from his previous works, with a focus on cute puffers.
Edeline Lee RTW Fall 2021
Lee also introduced a sustainable loungewear capsule that one "can roll out of bed and take a Zoom call in…
Emilia Wickstead RTW Fall 2021
Wickstead married cinematic inspiration with elegant solutions for dressing in today's world.
Kaushik Velendra Men’s Fall 2021
The designer used this opportunity to discuss the power of fashion and its influence on our self-empowerment…
Mithridate RTW Fall 2021
The Guangzhou-based label made its London Fashion Week debut with a fall collection reimagined as a digital…