'Next British fashion era' looms as major shakeup to London Fashion Week is announced

Daily Mirror

6 days ago

London Fashion Week announcement from British Fashion Council's new chief executive looks set to take event beyond the central city with big plans for an industry reset to address 'losing talent' fears
London Fashion Week is a massive event that's recognised across the globe with British and international designers' clothes featuring on the glamorous catwalk. Fashion shows take place in several spots across the city, as models showcase the latest collections, but now, a shake up has been announced with plans to move some of the focus beyond central London.
The stylish event has been going since 1984 - and it's built up a huge reputation, aligning with other huge fashion shows across the world, with Milan, Paris, New York and London being known as the "big four". Industry professionals and fashion conscious onlookers watch the glamorous shows and fab new designs parade the catwalk - and it's impressive - but it's about to move to a new era.
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British Fashion Council's (BFC) new chief executive, Laura Weir, has been in the role for less than 80 days, but she's just announced the "next British fashion era" awaits - and she wants to revitalise the fashion industry. Speaking at the BFC's summer party at the Serpentine Pavilion in Kensington Gardens, Laura said it was time for a "reset".
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She addressed fears that London has been losing talent to Paris, Milan and Berlin, but set out her plan to prioritise British fashion's global reputation. Laura's plans for the fashion industry include "moving beyond central London" with a focus on 'touching communities that have never touched fashion before - until now."
In her first speech as chief executive at the BFC summer party, she said: 'As I take on this role, I'm aware that the task ahead is Herculean - revitalising a sustainable fashion economy for our British designers in the UK and globally is a long-term mission. I took this job because I care about the creative and commercial success of British fashion, and I won't rest until my tenure has had a positive impact on its global reputation."
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Laura unveiled several strategies that will update and refresh the fashion economy, particularly for British designers. She said infrastructure is needed to support British designers so they are able to make, create and show their designs in the country - and the all important aspect of industry growth for homegrown fashion needs to be addressed, she said.
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Speaking at the Serpentine Pavilion she said: 'I am still shaping my strategy, and my intention is to build on the great foundations of the BFC - to put designers at the heart, to make mentoring and business skills central to our offer and to ensure our funding models result in long-term impact for the British creative economy.
"Every event and showcase we host will be intentional and magnetic and the BFC's work internationally on behalf of our members, will mark a new era of post-Brexit cultural diplomacy."
In a changing society, she acknowledged that fashion is "not just about shows and clothes." Laura described fashion as giving us a "preview of society's next chapter" adding that 'it's time to write a new story together'.
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She spoke of the importance of sustainability, said that the BFC has secured government funding for designer scholarships - and the London Fashion Week guest programme will invest more so they can welcome more international visitors to the event.
Laura also said she felt that since Brexit and Covid, "we have been sleeping on the creative British asset that quite literally touches everyone." She added that Britain has designer creativity "in spades" and has done for years, but that "that investment in culture leads to the commercial and reputational success of a nation."
London Fashion Week shows will hit the catwalk this September, taking place at several key spots such as Somerset House and The Truman Brewery - other interesting spaces will be announced as a surprise giving the event a fresh concept. The fashion week runs from Thursday, 18 September until Monday, 22 September in 2025 - it's a bi-annual event that runs again in June 2026.
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