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
Dilara Findikoglu RTW Spring 2020
The designer expressed her feelings about a world in chaos via her subversive take on fashion, citing Jesus…
Rixo RTW Spring 2020
Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey went all-out Boho for their spring 2020 collection.
Margaret Howell RTW Spring 2020
The designer delivered another collection of pleasing and timeless wardrobe staples.
Naomi Campbell Corrals Skepta, Luke Evans and Eve for Fashion for Relief
Campbell wore a "gunshot wound" printed dress before she walked the runway in Valentino couture.
Natasha Zinko RTW Spring 2020
Zinko wore sustainability on her sleeve this season, piecing together vintage clothes, deadstock and leftover…
David Koma RTW Spring 2020
David Koma did what he does best with sharp, sexy evening dresses but also broadened his scope to include…
House of Holland RTW Spring 2020
The designer channeled a mix of Seventies disco glamour and Nineties rave aesthetics into an energetic and…
Beckham’s Blend: Victoria Beckham Cooks Up Two Color-Packed Collections
The designer is pumping up the volume for spring with a collection packed with voluminous silhouettes and…
Eftychia RTW Spring 2020
A gender reversed last supper at a business meeting and female empowerment with a cult following, Eftychia is…
Rejina Pyo RTW Spring 2020
Rejina Pyo offered a more refined take on much-loved signatures, reworking them with more muted colors and…
Matty Bovan RTW Spring 2020
Matty Bovan dialled down the heat for spring with a collection that was uncharacteristically subdued, with…
Kiko Kostadinov RTW Spring 2020
The Fanning sisters' study of circle took a dark turn.
Fashion East RTW Spring 2020
This edition of Fashion East featured Ancuta Sarca, Gareth Wrighton and Yuhan Wang.
Halpern RTW Spring 2020
Michael Halpern keeps piling on the sequins but was also looking to interpret his maximalist spirit in new…
Amanda Wakeley RTW Spring 2020
Wakeley grabbed inspiration from Havana's landscape and injected it into her spring collection.