The UK fashion industry makes more money than the entire food and drinks industry of the UK and employs twice as many people. So to say that London Fashion Week is an important event in the fashion world is to understate the fact. Of the big four fashion weeks, London started much later than New York, Paris, and Milan. But despite its youth, it's become the heavyweight of the four and continues to drive innovation and creativity every year. As New York Fashion Week continues to struggle and Milan sticks to focusing on the same designers every year, London continues to move forward. With its rebellious and counter-culture atmosphere combined with some of the biggest fashion debuts in the industry, here's the true story of London Fashion Week.
Humble beginnings?
Launched in 1984, the first-ever London Fashion Week is sometimes referred to as an inauspicious debut. Set in a car park, with the main catwalk inside a tent, it's easy to see why it's often considered a little lackluster. However, what most people forget is the sheer quality of the designers on the show. Not only did Vivienne Westwood attend with her stunning new lines, but it was also the official debut of John Galliano. Even from the start, London Fashion Week has been a showcase venue for the freshest young talent in the fashion industry, a tradition that continues to this day.
Designers and guests
London Fashion Week has always attracted the best new talents. From Alexander McQueen to Stella McCartney and Simone Rocha, the sheer range of designers who have launched their careers at the event is like a list of household names. Philip Treacy, the man credited with saving the British hat-making industry, debuted in 1993 with a controversial show featuring a topless Naomi Campbell alongside household names Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, Yasmin Le Bon, and Stella Tennant. And it's not just the designers. Guests from all around the world attend the event, and even the Queen of England has been spotted enjoying the catwalk shows. Princess Diana was a regular attendee and was often seen wearing the clothes that had debuted at the event.
The Popularity of London Fashion Week
There were only 15 catwalk shows in the 1984 event. At the February 2020 show, there were 72 catwalk shows and presentations! Every year, London Fashion Week sees around 105,000 attendees. Betway research shows that it has more guests than Milan (22,500) and Paris (30,000) combined. Only New York Fashion Week has more attendees, but it also has a reputation for being set in its ways and is losing out on many of its established designers who are flocking to the now international Paris fashion Week.
Where London Fashion Week excels is its focus on creative young talent. While it lacks the international approach that's been so successful for Paris Fashion Week, it maintains a rebellious atmosphere and creative energy that other fashion events have not pursued (for one reason or another). Milan might have Armani, Gucci, and Versace, but it has failed to refresh. The true story of London Fashion Week is one of creative risk, passionate imagination, and a constant drive to reinvent and transform the fashion industry as a whole.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
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