Latest news with #LondonFashionWeek
Fashion United
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion United
Manchester Fashion Week to return after a decade away
Manchester Fashion Week is returning in September, after a decade away, with a mission to spotlight emerging design talent, innovation and sustainability, while offering brands an opportunity to connect and shape the future of fashion. The event will run from September 9 to 11, ahead of London Fashion Week, and will be centred around the vibrant St. John's area of Manchester, with its official hub set in the newly refurbished Campfield, a new creative hub that has transformed one of Manchester's oldest market halls. With support from sustainability fashion media platform and consultancy Eco Age, which relaunched under new ownership in June as a communications agency for 'future fashion,' Manchester Fashion Week will be spearheaded by some of the industry's renowned thought-leaders, including Carry Somers, founder of global movement Fashion Revolution and Safia Minney, award-winning social entrepreneur and founder of People Tree, a pioneer of sustainable and fairtrade fashion. Gemma Gratton, executive producer of Manchester Fashion Week, said in a statement: "Manchester has always led in music, in manufacturing, in movements. And now, it's time to lead again by future-proofing fashion from the ground up. "Manchester Fashion Week is not just a celebration of style, but a cultural catalyst for people, purpose, and progress." Manchester Fashion Week to champion sustainable practices and technological advancement Manchester Fashion Week pledges to unite emerging designers and established brands on a platform that bridges Manchester's industrial heritage with cutting-edge innovation by spotlighting conversations around the city's textile heritage and mills, sustainable practices and technological innovations to future-proof the fashion industry. The inaugural pilot will be industry-led, with public experiences and cultural events, and will be focused around three themed days, 'to merge fashion with conscious innovation,' explains organisers. The first day will focus on 'Heritage and Future-Proof,' celebrating Manchester's industrial heritage with next gen style and future innovation, while day two will showcase 'Health and Wellness' diving into a world where fashion fuels the 'mind, body and soul,' spotlighting high-tech active-wear, colour therapy couture, and conversations about mental health in the industry. The final day will highlight 'Tech and Innovation' and how the new era of fashion is 'creative, conscious and circular,' showing how AI-powered design, 3D-prototype innovation, smart textiles and digital-only garments are transforming how we create, consume and circulate. John Higginson, chief executive of Eco Age, added: 'Manchester is Britain's fashion mecca. Where else do you go where everyone walks around as if they are always on a catwalk? But there is a fight between crappy, flimsy fast fashion and the beautiful things you want to keep forever. 'Manchester Fashion Week is all about future fashion – forever fashion.' Manchester Fashion Week to return September 9 - 11 Manchester has been dubbed the 'rising fashion capital' of the UK, for launching and nurturing some of the UK's most well-known fashion brands, as well as housing the UK's first fashion manufacturing lab, pioneered by the Manchester Fashion Institute, which offers businesses and researchers access to collaborative robotic technology, 'cobots', that can create sustainable high value, low volume garments. The city has also recently been spotlighted as the new UK home of Puma. The German sportswear brand is relocating its UK headquarters from London to Manchester's technology, digital and creative hub, Circle Square, and has launched a new initiative, 'R-City,' geared at investing in the city's youth with free gym memberships, music masterclasses, youth-led events, and product drops. "This isn't just Manchester's moment. It's Manchester fashion's reset. And it starts here – right from the root," the organisers added. The relaunch of Manchester Fashion Week follows the British Fashion Council's chief executive officer Laura Weir pledging to promote and support the fashion industry across the whole of the UK, not just London, starting with its new creative education BFC Fashion Assembly pilot, which will take designers back to their old schools, so that young people outside of London can see themselves in this industry in the future.
Fashion Network
17 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Topshop and Topman to return to the runway
Topshop and Topman 's relaunch is a big deal for the labels and so far has included a campaign, a one-day pop-up, news of the labels being made available via other retailer's physical stores and more. And now there's another big step as they prepare to hit the runways. Topshop was one of the first fashion brands to appear on the designer runways and while its presence at London Fashion Week is now a distant memory, along with Topman it will be back on its own runway later this summer. After seven years away from the catwalks, Topshop and Topman are staging a joint show next month 'to celebrate the relaunch of and debut their AW25 collections. The product on show will include see-now, buy-now pieces as well as an early preview of items set to drop later in the season. What that means for Topshop is an autumn-winter season of 'sharp tailoring, statement outerwear, standout dresses and must-have denim pieces'. For Topman it's all about redefining 'modern utility by blending refined formalwear with sharp new silhouettes, while casual pieces are grounded by authentic denim in deep indigos'. One difference from past appearances at LFW are that the show will be open to the public, with more details available later this summer. The show will also come with a London street party featuring live music, DJ sets, and surprise guests. For now, the retailer has launched an open casting in collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, London, 'offering new, unsigned talent the opportunity to walk the show'. Applications are open and close on 4 August.
Fashion Network
18 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Topshop and Topman to return to the runway
Topshop and Topman 's relaunch is a big deal for the labels and so far has included a campaign, a one-day pop-up, news of the labels being made available via other retailer's physical stores and more. And now there's another big step as they prepare to hit the runways. Topshop was one of the first fashion brands to appear on the designer runways and while its presence at London Fashion Week is now a distant memory, along with Topman it will be back on its own runway later this summer. After seven years away from the catwalks, Topshop and Topman are staging a joint show next month 'to celebrate the relaunch of and debut their AW25 collections. The product on show will include see-now, buy-now pieces as well as an early preview of items set to drop later in the season. What that means for Topshop is an autumn-winter season of 'sharp tailoring, statement outerwear, standout dresses and must-have denim pieces'. For Topman it's all about redefining 'modern utility by blending refined formalwear with sharp new silhouettes, while casual pieces are grounded by authentic denim in deep indigos'. One difference from past appearances at LFW are that the show will be open to the public, with more details available later this summer. The show will also come with a London street party featuring live music, DJ sets, and surprise guests. For now, the retailer has launched an open casting in collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, London, 'offering new, unsigned talent the opportunity to walk the show'. Applications are open and close on 4 August.
Fashion Network
20 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Topshop and Topman to return to the runway
Topshop and Topman 's relaunch is a big deal for the labels and so far has included a campaign, a one-day pop-up, news of the labels being made available via other retailer's physical stores and more. And now there's another big step as they prepare to hit the runways. Topshop was one of the first fashion brands to appear on the designer runways and while its presence at London Fashion Week is now a distant memory, along with Topman it will be back on its own runway later this summer. After seven years away from the catwalks, Topshop and Topman are staging a joint show next month 'to celebrate the relaunch of and debut their AW25 collections. The product on show will include see-now, buy-now pieces as well as an early preview of items set to drop later in the season. What that means for Topshop is an autumn-winter season of 'sharp tailoring, statement outerwear, standout dresses and must-have denim pieces'. For Topman it's all about redefining 'modern utility by blending refined formalwear with sharp new silhouettes, while casual pieces are grounded by authentic denim in deep indigos'. One difference from past appearances at LFW are that the show will be open to the public, with more details available later this summer. The show will also come with a London street party featuring live music, DJ sets, and surprise guests. For now, the retailer has launched an open casting in collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, London, 'offering new, unsigned talent the opportunity to walk the show'. Applications are open and close on 4 August.
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Great British Sewing Bee is back - but I miss Kiell Smith-Bynoe
The Great British Sewing Bee returned last night, with host Sara Pascoe back at the helm after maternity leave. She was dressed as a strange, trippy cloud – and it was wonderful. Until Sewing Bee comes around, I always forget how much I love it. And Tuesday's launch show might just have been the greatest opening episode of any Sewing Bee yet – the talent more exciting than any series before it. But I missed Kiell Smith-Bynoe, and wished he could've been part of its great return. Sara had to skip the last series of Sewing Bee to have her second child, so Ghosts actor and fellow comedian Kiell stepped in and unexpectedly became the best thing to ever happen to the show. Kiell's lack of presenting experience might be why he was so great. He felt more like each contestant's mate popping over for a catch up. There was an effortlessness to him that I imagine comes from not really having a presenting hat on and just having a laugh. The contestants clearly adored him on a personal level and it was easy to see why, when he approached them all with sincere interest and genuine appreciation of their work. All without pretending he had the slightest clue what they were doing. At the time, he felt like such an obscure choice. Sure, spooky sitcom Ghosts is hugely popular, but he wasn't a household name like the previous Sewing Bee hosts: Pascoe, Joe Lycett, and Claudia Winkleman. But very quickly, it became clear that Kiell fit Sewing Bee like a perfectly hand-crafted glove. Every week, I found myself looking forward to the show more than I ever had before – genuinely counting down the days until my boyfriend and I could get cosy and watch the most content people I've ever seen create breathtaking designs with a level of humility and kindness you'd be hard-pressed to find backstage at London Fashion Week. I hadn't even seen Kiell in anything before. He'd acted in the likes of Death in Paradise, Stath Lets Flats, Ghosts, and Lily Allen's short-lived comedy Dreamland. He'd also been a huge hit on Channel 4's Taskmaster, which pits comedians against each other in absurd challenges – but admittedly, I knew nothing about him. Even Kiell himself had no idea why he'd been chosen to present Sewing Bee. He wasn't afraid to address the elephant in the room either. In his first episode as a host, he joked: 'Now this challenge is judged blindly, so the judges are off to watch Ghosts on iPlayer, as Esme has no idea who I am or why I got this job.' But judge Patrick Grant saw the potential, slid into his DMs, and it turned out to be an inspired decision. Even on X (formerly Twitter), where compliments are few and far between, the response was overwhelmingly positive. You'd have struggled to find a single negative tweet and it seemed he'd found a home there for good. But to clarify: I'm not a monster. I would never suggest that a woman take time off to have a baby and lose her job as a result. I absolutely love Sara Pascoe. Every time I see or hear her, I fall even more in love with her nervous energy and obscure quick wit. She's absolutely fantastic on Sewing Bee because she's just completely herself at all times. I've seen her stand-up too many times to count, and there's such an ease to everything she does. Still, I do think it's a missed opportunity not to have kept Kiell on, too – the pair of them could've made the dreamiest of double acts. And one that isn't made up of the same few presenters – Rylan, Alison Hammond, Davina McCall, or AJ Odudu – currently hogging every corner of British television. Sewing Bee is as close to perfect as television gets, but even perfection can evolve. I don't think Bake Off would work with Noel Fielding on his own. Granted, Alison Hammond's chaos gives every show she touches the Midas touch, but these gentle-competition formats thrive with a dynamic duo at the helm. As Sewing Bee's judges, Patrick Grant and Esme Young are a criminally underrated double act whose chemistry puts Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith to shame. But with Kiell proving to be such a seamless addition to the franchise, it feels strange – almost wrong – to return to Sewing Bee without him. Since launching in 2013, Sewing Bee has been consistently popular, but it hasn't quite captured the zeitgeist the way Bake Off or even The Great Pottery Throw Down has – and in my opinion, it's so much better than both. It's inclusive, innovative, and packed with warmth, even if that's the last thing we need during this insufferable heatwave. But I really believe it could break through to the next level with Kiell joining Sara. More Trending As well as his everyman charm, he was brilliant at the off-beat comedy that interrupts the contest – something Sara also excels at. Together, they could be an unstoppable pairing, capable of transcending Sewing Bee altogether. Regardless, one episode in and there's already a lot to be excited about the Sewing Bee, including Sara Pascoe. I'd listen to Jojo Siwa's torturous cover of Bette Davis Eyes on repeat for Caz, and Saffie's purple and yellow pleated dress in the made-to-measure was a work of art. Every single contestant feels like 'one other watch', which is unheard of. I just wish Kiell was there too. View More » Great British Sewing Bee airs Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. 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