The British Fashion Council’s CEO on what not to miss at LFW

London Fashion Week falls during the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II. We were lucky enough to welcome Her Majesty to the occasion in 2018, where her enthusiasm for design, craftsmanship and clothes was apparent and so inspiring. 

London Fashion Week is an important global platform for designers to showcase their collections. Their visions are brought to life in a moment of creativity and joy, telling stories of heritage and inspiration. This season, some designers have had to adapt their plans, but I have no doubt that they’ll create something beautiful and I thank them for their resilience. There is so much to see, here are a few things to look out for. 

1. NEWGEN
Our talent incubator programme, NEWGEN, is unparalleled and this year’s cohort is one of the strongest we have ever seen. It is these young talents that push boundaries and drive change in the industry, tackling topics such as the environment and identity. Look out for: Ancuta Sarca, Chet Lo, Di Petsa, Eftychia, Feben, Harri, Helen Kirkum, Leo Carlton, Masha Popova, Nensi Dojaka, Paolo Carzana, Sinéad O’Dwyer, S.S. Daley, Stefan Cooke and yuhan wang. 

2. The coming together of the international community 
I am looking forward to celebrating the designers with the local and international fashion community. Their support has been fantastic, and their unwavering interest in the designers is something I’m grateful for and reminds me that London has the best creative talent in the world. 

3. JW Anderson is a must-see show 
This season, he’s planned an intimate show highlighting the solidarity and resilience within the creative industries in London. 

4. Chopova Lowena
I’m excited to see them return to the schedule this season. Shortlisted for the BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund this year, their anthropological approach to design is so delightful and I am looking forward to seeing the new collection. 

5. The creative community’s tributes to Her Majesty The Queen 
We are dedicating this Fashion Week to Queen Elizabeth II, and I’m looking forward to the creative commemorations and celebrations of Her Majesty’s commitment to creativity and design. Our NEWGEN space at the Old Selfridges Hotel will feature a tribute wall, and we’ve also invited the community to share their tributes digitally on the British Fashion Council website.

And, of course, you should take regular pitstops between the shows at all of our London Houses. Not least 76 Dean Street in Soho, which has had an elegant refresh just in time for Fashion Week.